German logistics services provider Rhenus Maritime Services (RMS) and compatriot shipping company Wessels Reederei have decided to pursue cooperation in ship management.
As explained, the goal of the cooperation is to place the technical management of the RMS fleet in the hands of Wessels Reederei in the near future.
The fleet currently consists of fifteen coastal vessels with a deadweight ranging between 1,700 and 3,300 tons.
All the administrative tasks at RMS were transferred to Wessels Reederei in Haren an der Ems at the end of 2017, Rhenus said in a statement.
“We’re hoping for further economic benefits through the cooperation of our two shipping companies in the extremely competitive business of coastal shipping,” Ralf Uebachs, Managing Director of Rhenus Maritime Services , commented.
“It’ll be possible to improve cost structures – for example when purchasing and overhauling spare parts – as well as insurance services with the fleet that is now available,” Gerd Wessels, Managing Partner of Wessels Reederei , said.
Wessels Reederei became the first shipping company to have modified a 1,000 TEU container vessel from a traditional marine diesel power unit to one driven by environmentally-friendly LNG. In November, the company revealed plans to convert three more ships to dual-fuel gas operation.
“We’re certain that the two companies will press ahead with energy-saving technologies even more successfully as they work together,” Uebachs added.