Sinotrans agreement highlights port calls increase for Wilhelmsen Ships Service

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has noted a 13% increase between February and March in the number of port calls made for the provision of the company’s ships agency services. 

The upward trend appears to be continuing for April, as Wilhelmsen Ships Service today signs an agreement with Sinotrans Shipping Ltd Hong Kong to provide services covering approximately 750 port calls per year.  Sinotrans is one of China’s largest shipping companies in terms of self-owned dry bulk fleet size so the agreement with the Hong Kong subsidiary is an indicator of their trust in our offer.

“The agreement with Sinotrans is a significant gain for Wilhelmsen Ships Service” comments Capt Gur Prasad Kohli, General Manager, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, Hong Kong.  

The March achievement marks an upturn in business, and is among the best monthly performances in the company’s history. 

Frederic Fontarosa, Business Director Ships Agency and Bunkers comments “The Sinotrans agreement will significantly boost the figures for our monthly port calls figures. Aside from this the increases that we have seen in the last couple of months indicate that ships agency is back on track, as the financial crisis appears to be receding.” Fontarosa adds “In spite of the shipping market still being weak, Wilhelmsen Ships Service is strengthening its position in the marketplace.

This is thanks to a number of new agreements which the company has put in place for rendering husbandry services and includes not only the Sinotrans contract but a husbandry agreement recently signed with Torm Shipping of the Philippines as well.  
Wilhelmsen Ships Service supplies Unitor marine products, technical services, ships agency services and maritime logistics.

(Source: Transport Weekly)