Customers or their customers increasingly choose to engage a vetting company before entrusting their valuable cargo to one of our vessels. Such a vetting company checks the quality of our organization, services and ships. That means another check that costs us a lot of time and energy, in addition to, for example, the checks of Flagstate, Portstate and Class. Nevertheless, we are happy with this extra check. Nautical Operations Manager Eldert Heijkoop explains why.
If you thought the paper industry was going to disappear, think again. Even though the global demand for fine paper has dropped, online shopping drives packaging paper volumes through the roof. We talk with Metsä Group’s Vice President Marine Logistics Jyrki Ranki about growth ambitions, innovations driving sustainability and choosing the right logistic partners.
Eemshaven. Once the land of peat and agriculture. Nowadays more and more of new energy. Not only from offshore wind energy, but since September also from LNG via the EemsEnergyTerminal, a Gasunie subsidiary. This means that the Netherlands is one step closer to independence from Russian natural gas. The terminal will run at full capacity this winter.
Good employees are indispensable for a successful company, but how do you ensure that you recruit and retain the right employees? Prof. dr. Dr Lidewey van der Sluis has already inspired the HR staff and management of Wagenborg with her insights into the interface of business economics and strategic talent management. Now she also shares her ideas with Wagenborg. “From an employer’s perspective, I see a working relationship as an investment in the human capital of a company. Such an investment should pay off. You can’t take that lightly.”
For many years Franck Gibone worked in the West African oil market for a publicly traded service company, where “investor return” - may it be by pushing rates up in a high cycle or cutting costs in a low market to maximize profits for the shareholders - was paramount. This conventional approach and lack of creativity in developing a business were among the contributing factors in his decision to join in 2019, the Perenco Group, a family-owned and managed company in France. “A world of difference”, he states.
The ‘Wagenborg Attitude Training Experience & Responsibility Programme’, or WATER program, was launched in autumn this year. With this tailor-made training program, Wagenborg works on the leadership skills of its captains and officers. “The role of the captain and officers has shifted significantly in recent years from pure seamanship to a management position. Since people management is underexposed in nautical training, we are looking for ways to develop this”, says Mark Hoving, Senior Operational Manager Wagenborg Crew Management.
The shipping industry is and will remain cyclical. Good and bad years alternate. As a shipping company, it is therefore not that easy to remain profitable in the longer term. Especially considering all the environmental requirements and expectations that are set today. In addition, shipping is capital intensive, whereby appropriate financing is inextricably linked to the future of shipping. We talk to Bert Kuiken (Commercial Director) and Joep Gorgels (Global Head of Coverage Transportation & Logistics) of ABN Amro about mutual expectations, challenges for the future and the “Poseidon Principles”.
“We believe sea transport is important for SCA towards the future. For the last decades Wagenborg has been able to ship our products with a high quality and flexible fleet and had the chance to grow together,” says Mikael Toft, Commercial Manager SCA Sourcing & Logistics.
“Making our company more sustainable every day for current and future generations.” With this ambition, Wagenborg presented its sustainability policy at the end of 2020. We will talk to CEO Egbert Vuursteen and CFO Jeroen Seyger about good entrepreneurship, taking responsibility and greening at Wagenborg.
