Hong Kong Shipping Company Leads Awards for Industry

The Wallem Group, the Hong Kong head quartered shipping services company, is leading the way in the city for the maritime industry, winning a plethora of awards from peers, seafarers and clients.

The Shipping Company of the Year title was bestowed on Wallem by the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) for the Wallem Group’s crew welfare program in the Seafarer Welfare Awards.

ISWAN is backed by the ITF (International Transport Workers Federation), a heavy weight in the transport workers sector. Nominations for the Award are made by seafarers, endorsing Wallem as a leading employer for seafarers around the world.

The Award was announced on Monday 7 April 2014 at a ceremony hosted by the Director General of the International Labour Organisation, Mr Guy Ryder, at the ILO in Geneva.

Wallem Ship Management has received double the recognition from leading Japanese ship owner/operator client NYK Group, winning Car Carrier of the Year Awards for two vessels in management, and the Innovative Bunker and Idle time Saving (IBIS) Award for all NYK container vessels in Wallem’s management.

The shipping industry last night recognised Wallem with the Ship Manager of the Year Award at the annual Seatrade Asia awards ceremony in Singapore on 07 April. The Award recognises excellence in ship management, from crewing to technical and procurement services. Wallem delivers ship management services from the key maritime locations of Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe and North America.

The Hong Kong SAR has recently made commitments to the city’s maritime industry, including the Chief Executive CY Leung’s second policy address proposing a statutory maritime body and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council leading a delegation to the shipping event of the year, Posidonia, in Greece.

Wallem Scoops Awards Pool

The Wallem Group has been scooping the shipping awards pool, winning a plethora of awards from peers, seafarers, clients and government.

“We are so proud of the recognition we have received from across the industry – from our clients and peers to our employees and government bodies – it is all endorsement that Wallem is growing its business with best practice and innovation,” said Simon Doughty, Wallem Group CEO.

“We are committed to building on our 110 year heritage with a strategy that takes a long view of our business and includes working with clients that have a similar view on sustainable business, developing our shore and sea staff as shipping’s future leaders, and making a positive contribution to our industry.”

The Shipping Company of the Year title was bestowed on Wallem by the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) for the Wallem Group’s crew welfare program in the Seafarer Welfare Awards.

ISWAN is backed by the ITF (International Transport Workers Federation and nominations for the Award are made by seafarers, endorsing Wallem as a leading employer for seafarers around the world.

The Award was announced last night at a ceremony hosted by the Director General of the International Labour Organisation, Mr Guy Ryder, at the ILO in Geneva.

Wallem Ship Management has received double the recognition from leading Japanese ship owner/operator client NYK Group, winning Car Carrier of the Year Awards for two vessels in management, and the Innovative Bunker and Idle time Saving (IBIS) Award for all NYK container vessels in Wallem’s management.

The shipping industry last night recognised Wallem with the Ship Manager of the Year Award at the annual Seatrade Asia awards ceremony in Singapore on 07 April. The Award recognises excellence in ship management, from crewing to technical and procurement services. Wallem delivers ship management services from the key maritime locations of Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe and North America.

Wallem also won the Most Compassionate Employer of Indian Seafarers Award, bestowed by the Indian government, for Wallem’s policies and activities in seafarer welfare.

Wallem wins Most Compassionate Employer of Indian Seafarers Award

The Government of India has recognised Wallem Group’s role in seafarer welfare by awarding the company with the Most Compassionate Employer of Indian Seafarers award as part of the National Maritime Day celebrations on 5 April 2014.

This is the third time in the past six years Wallem has received the Award.

“We are proud to receive the award for Most Compassionate Employer of Indian Seafarers. About a third of Wallem’s 12 000 seafarers are from the Indian Subcontinent and we are grateful for the recognition from the sea staff and local maritime community,” said Raymond Mc Namara, Wallem Ship Management Managing Director.

Wallem Ship Management India’s Managing Director, Captain Navin Passey, says the award is a proud achievement for the staff.

“Wallem’s local staff across the country respect and care for our seafarers throughout their career with Wallem, and provide support for family members at home,” said Captain Passey.

“We have been opening more local centres to be closer to our sea staff, including Dehadrun, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai,Cochin and Patna, in addition to Wallem’s five key India offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chandigarh and Chennai.

“On board we now have more than 100 ships with crew internet, and we look forward to rolling out the service to all ships before the end of the year.”

“The Women of Wallem chapters are active in the community, providing an important support network for our seafarers’ families, along with charitable activities.”

Wallem's True North magazine is now available - Issue 1 - 2014

Breakbulk China 12-13 March - Wallem offers comprehensive breakbulk services

Wallem delivers a comprehensive range of breakbulk services to international carriers, charterers and project forwarders for vessels calling at all ports in Asia, South Africa and Americas.  This includes a full port agency service along with cargo canvassing and port operations support from our own office network.  Our chartering team offers vessels at competitive rates for all types of breakbulk cargo.

Our locally-based teams have extensive experience with internationals principals and a unique understanding of the local port situation.  We understand the commercial challenges of modern day shipping and deliver solutions based on our local knowledge and international expertise.

Wallem will be exhibiting for the third time at Breakbulk China in Shanghai on 12-13 March (Booth #A306d).

Cruise Shipping Miami 10-13 March 2014 - Asia expertise essential for consistency of service

Over the past 15 years, Wallem has built its Cruise Agency service to become the leading cruise operation in Asia with a reputation for service quality, innovation and problem solving.

As more cruise lines choose to call and home port in Asia, we are ideally positioned to grow with the industry and are committed to delivering an excellent service for each and every call.

“Consistency of service is a key factor for cruise lines, particularly in Asia,” says Wallem Ship Agency cruise expert Frankie Tan, “we are supporting more than 500 calls in the 2013/14 season in Asia, and every ship receives the same level of professional service at every port.

The Wallem Ship Agency network spans 14 countries in Asia, and has recently expanded into South Africa and the Americas. We work closely with international cruise lines to develop new itineraries and ensure a premium experience for their passengers.

Wallem will be exhibiting for the first time at Cruise Shipping Miami in Miami, USA on 10-13 March (Booth #456).

Wallem celebrates 110 years with party in Singapore

The Wallem Group has celebrated its 110^th birthday with an event for clients and partners in Singapore. More than 100 of the maritime community’s elite joined Wallem’s senior management team to recognise the company’s heritage in delivering maritime solutions.

The evening was hosted by Wallem Group Chairman, Nigel Hill, and Wallem Group CEO Simon Doughty.

“We are celebrating by sharing the milestone with the clients and partners that have supported Wallem in successfully achieving its 110^th anniversary as a successful maritime solutions provider,” said Wallem Group CEO Simon Doughty.

“We have recently expanded our presence in Singapore, establishing a hub of expertise delivering our full range of maritime solutions from a strategic maritime location.

“So although on this occasion we are celebrating our heritage, we are also excited about the future for Wallem.”

From a ship broking firm established in Shanghai in 1903, Wallem has grown to 47 offices in 18 countries delivering ship management and technical services, shipbroking and commercial services, ship agency and logistics, becoming a leader in delivering diverse maritime solutions.

With 1000 staff on shore and a pool of more than 12000 seafarers, Wallem has grown in reputation and service quality to be a leader in the maritime services sector.

The Wallem Group has shown accelerated geographic growth in the past two years with expansion of its presence in Singapore as a South East Asia hub, Hamburg as a Europe hub, and new offices in South Africa and the USA.

Wallem continues to be a leader in ship management, currently managing 400 vessels in technical and crewing management, and 25 vessels in commercial management.

Wallem also continues to grow in service depth, with new services complimenting the long standing solutions Wallem is well known for. These include a life-saving equipment testing and servicing solution through Wallem-associated SeaSafe Marine, a project purchasing solution through Marine Buying Services which removes costs from the supply chain. New freight forwarding and logistics services have also been established in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore.

Latest True North magazine out now

The final issue of True North magazine for 2013 is now available. Read about the Year of the Wallem Seafarer, our delivery of seafarers' rights with MLC 2006 compliance, and a brewery project that will wet your whistle.

This issue also includes our cruise expert Dickson Chin's measure of the Asia cruise market potential, where Wallem's life saving equipment specialist Andrew Lemmis sees opportunity in new IMO regulations, and our list of loyal long service award recipients.

Click here to read the magazine or contact a Wallem office for a hard copy of the magazine.

Assistance for typhoon-affected sea and shore staff

Wallem Group is offering assistance to its sea and shore staff affected by Typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan which recently devastated parts of the Philippines. Wallem currently has 2300 Filipino seafarers serving on board Wallem-managed vessels.

Financial assistance is available for seafarers and shore-based staff in addition to compassionate leave.

Staff from the Wallem Ship Management fleet personnel team and Wallem's manning agents are working hard to contact seafarers and their families living in the affected areas.

The Women of Wallem chapters have mobilised their members and are giving their time packing boxes of emergency medical items to be used by the Philippines Army Medical group which recently sent volunteer doctors and nurses into the Samar region.

If you are a Wallem seafarer or a family member affected by the typhoon, please contact your local manning agent.

The thoughts and prayers of Wallem staff around the world are with Filipino seafarers and their families.

Proud delivery of seafarers’ bill of rights

Wallem is proud to show our commitment to seafarers’ welfare with the entire Wallem fleet meeting the target date for compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC).

At 20 August 2013 all vessels in the fleet had been audited and endorsed under the Convention. MLC 2006, also known at the “seafarers’ bill of rights”, provides a standard for decent working conditions for seafarers and a level competition field for employers.

Simon Frank, Wallem Fleet Personnel Director, said the full compliance illustrates the company’s assurance to seafarers that Wallem is committed to providing a good working environment on board.

“It is an authentication of Wallem’s compliance, but in many cases we are offering more than the industry standard. We will continue to offer employment conditions that keep us in that field,” said Simon.

“In mid-2012 we began a process of auditing our processes against the Convention, and although in most cases were offering more than the standard established by MLC, we did have some areas for improvement. So we reviewed our procedures, particularly in handling feedback, and updated them.

“The Convention will hopefully change the situation of seafarers working with less-reputable managers or ship owners. Ship owners and managers that understand the importance of seafarers in their business will, like us, have found they are already delivering on the standards set by MLC 2006.

“This isn’t to say the Convention isn’t necessary; by setting a standard for working conditions I think the whole industry shows it has an appetite to offer a better on board environment for all sea staff.”

Recently Wallem has started working with a specialist catering company to consistently deliver a high quality standard for food on board. Although not addressed by MLC 2006, personal communications between ship and shore are now an expected standard for quality crew members. In a highly connected world seafarers do not want to “drop-out” for the length of their contract. In response to the need, Wallem is introducing internet access on board for chatting, emails, internet browsing and an opportunity to purchase increased access each month.