A new Kongsberg Maritime office in the port of Piraeus, Greece went operational on September 1st 2011. Kongsberg Maritime Hellas SA, has been established as a customer support & sales office to meet the procurement and service requirements of Greek shipowners and vessels sailing with Kongsberg Maritime systems in southern Europe.
With a large base of ferry operators and merchant vessel owners (totalling over 4000 vessels), Greece is an important market for Kongsberg Maritime. The company’s Maritime Black Box VDR system is used by a significant number of Greek ferries whilst Blue Star Ferries will soon be using Kongsberg Maritime’s K-Chief 600 automation systems aboard its vessels.
Kongsberg Maritime Hellas SA will perform service in the local area and in southern Europe, covering the majority of Kongsberg Maritime’s automation and navigation systems. Recent investment in the LNG and shuttle tanker markets by Greek owners will also see the team supporting specialist systems including K-Pos Dynamic Positioning, Custody Transfer Systems and the K-Chief 700 automation system for offshore applications.
Kongsberg Maritime Hellas SA has 14 staff and the Board of directors consists of existing Kongsberg Maritime employees Rune Haukom, Leif Kristian Weum and chairman Morten Hasås. General Manager of KM Hellas, Terje Dyhre , states: “There are around 700 shipping companies in the Athens and Piraeus area so it was important for KONGSBERG to establish presence in Greece to better support our many clients in the country and region.”
As one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean sea, Piraeus is classed as a top ten European container port. More than 24,000 vessels visit Piraeus each year.
[mappress] Source: Kongsberg, September 27, 2011.