A.P. Moller – Maersk Aborts Maersk Supply Service Sale

A.P. Moller – Maersk has decided to retain full ownership of Maersk Supply Service, a company operating in the offshore support vessel industry.

The company decided to retain the ownership of Maersk Supply Service after investigating several structural solutions but couldn’t find the right fit, due to signs of distress in the offshore support vessel industry over the last three years.

“We have over the past two years been investigating various structural solutions for Maersk Supply Service. However, having been unable to establish any solutions meeting our objective of creating shareholder value, we have decided to retain Maersk Supply Service,” said Claus V. Hemmingsen, vice CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk and CEO of the Energy division.

“Maersk Supply Service launched a new strategic direction in the autumn of 2016 as a response to the downturn, which is positioning the company stronger and with a more robust and differentiated platform to compete from, when we eventually see a recovery within their core markets in the Oil & Gas space.”

Maersk Supply Service’s strategy is focused on optimizing the existing core business through time chartering out their assets, pursuing of new business as an integrated solution contractor, and by diversifying into new markets.

The strategy is progressing well and in 2018 approximately 30 percent of Maersk Supply Service’s revenue were generated from new business, including offshore wind, ocean cleaning and deep-sea mining, the company explained.

“Our diversification initiatives are building presence in other markets and enable us to be less dependent on the traditional Oil & Gas market in the future. Our 44-vessel fleet has an average age of less than ten years and supports our integrated solutions offerings. With our modern fleet and skilled people, we are well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities in the future and differentiate us from our peers,” said Steen S. Karstensen, CEO of Maersk Supply Service.

“I am deeply impressed with the attitude and dedication shown by the Maersk Supply Service management and the entire organisation both on- and offshore. Through a period of uncertainty and change, Maersk Supply Service has continued to deliver safe and efficient services and not least managed to develop their customer propositions and market position,” added Claus V. Hemmingsen.

Maersk Supply Service has the last two years been progressing towards becoming a stand-alone entity and today operates almost fully independently and will continue to do so, the company noted..

Maersk Supply Service was classified as discontinued operation and held as asset for sale in Q4 2017. The company will be reclassified to continuing operations and will be included in A.P. Moller – Maersk’s income statement.