Bernhard Schulte, Columbia Join Forces on Ship Supply

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and Columbia Shipmanagement have combined their global buying power to create an independent procurement company.

The new unit, GP General Procurement Company Limited (GenPro), will negotiate framework supply agreements with international ship suppliers on behalf of its members’ clients with a view to securing the lowest prices achievable on all consumables.

This new agreement allows a pool of 800 vessels managed by BSM and Columbia the access to a wider range of consumables at the best prices available globally, the parties said.

It will capitalise on the best practices and strengths of its members by driving efficiencies into the whole procurement process to help reduce clients’ vessel OpEx costs and return real value to the client by way of volume-related discounts in a fully transparent and auditable way, the parties explained.

“We believe GenPro will change the way global procurement is delivered to shipowners on an international scale and will in time become a compelling new force in the industry. Both companies are leveraging their industry links and relationships to owners and we believe this is something owners will welcome,” Ian Beveridge, CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement said.

The scope and reach of the procurement effort will not be limited to maritime products and consumables but will include all products and consumables associated with the operation of the maritime business, onshore and offshore.