Page 31 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - MARTIOS 2023

SHIP MANAGEMENT

In this exclusive interview with Naftika Chronika, René Kofod-Olsen discusses the role
of third-party management in the new shipping era and the need to create an environment
that will attract young people to the maritime profession. He also shares his thoughts
on the future course of Greek-owned shipping.

ΗOW THE WORLD

IS BEING RESHAPED

René Kofod-Olsen, Ö What is the role of third-party man- with their charterers. That’s what we do as ship
Chief Executive Officer agement in this new shipping era? management companies, and that’s the core
of V.Group,
We have a global presence with over 60 offices of our business. We are solid partners offering
in an interview with in locations all around the world. The services shipowners total ship management services or
Giannis Theodoropoulos of V. Group are divided into two main cate- support services.
gories: ship management and a portfolio of
marine services that support shipping. And that á Are Greek shipowners reluctant to
is the answer to your question. As third-party trust third-party ship management?
management companies, we are a good com- What is your experience?
plement and not an alternative to global ship- Greece is one of the biggest shipowning coun-
ping. I come from a shipowning background, so tries in the world - Greek shipowners own
I look at things from the client’s side. When I 5,500 to 6,000 vessels. It’s significant. Of
joined V. Ships two years ago, we set a strategy course, when I spoke about going through a
and knew exactly where we wanted to be in rite of passage to earn the trust of ship owners,
ten years. I was surprised at how little ship- I meant the trust of generational shipowning.
ping is outsourcing: about 16%. In other indus- For a financial investor or a newcomer to ship-
tries that also require liquidity, real estate, for ping, it is easier to call us and say ‘’please help
example, the opposite is true, as there are a us’’ as opposed to us trying to explain what
limited number of hotels or office complexes we do as a business that offers complemen-
managed by their owners. So, we need to and tary services. We hold conversations with Greek
can reverse that. We need shipowners to see shipowners, and if you consider the number of
us as an alternative option to managing their ships this office manages, which is almost close
own ships, and we have to go through a rite of to 100, we have proven that we are a reliable
passage to earn that. It is on us, the ship man- partner to Greek shipowners. As an industry,
agers, to prove that we are a viable alternative, ship management needs to demonstrate what
whereby the shipowners feel that they remain in it can do. But I am quite optimistic that we will
charge of their strategies, i.e., in charge of the continue increasing the number of ships in the
vessels they buy or sell or how they negotiate pool of Greek-owned vessels we manage.

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