About

Discover more about the Wallem Group, our 115 year history and why our people and values make us the company we are today.

About

Values

Our reputation depends on our integrity and on the highest standards of corporate governance. We have strong management controls, solid risk management, transparency in our customer interactions, and full compliance with applicable regulations. Our culture centres around how we treat one another and our customers and ensuring all communication is honest and transparent. We are conscious of the environmental impact our operations, do our utmost to lessen this impact and encourage our customers to do likewise. Wallem is the only Hong Kong-based company to have been awarded the Green Award for ships under its management.

Safety

Safety (at sea and ashore) is our highest priority and we take pride in our industry-leading safety record. Awareness of work-life balance at sea is part of our pre-joining safety briefings and at our 8 training centres. The wellbeing of Wallem seafarers is an essential part of our safety culture and our commitment to this is underpinned by our Wellness@Sea programme which focuses on both physical and mental health. In addition, we empower our seafarers to take a proactive approach to safety through various ongoing initiatives.

People

Our greatest strength is our people. We are committed to a safe, healthy and respectful atmosphere both ashore and onboard our managed ships. We equip people with new knowledge and skills throughout their careers with us. “Wallem Academy” offers a blended approach to learning, mixing classroom and e-learning courses, and accommodates people from all job levels and all learning styles. Our seafarers benefit from 8 fully-owned training centres around the world that are equipped with full bridge and engine simulators.

Community

Wallem is committed to making positive contributions to the communities in which we serve. Our community outreach organisation, “Women of Wallem” has nine chapters in our seafarers’ communities in the Philippines, India, Russia and the Ukraine. These groups offer invaluable support to our seafarers and their families in their communities. Wallem is also an active industry partner and contributes at conferences & events around the world in order to share experience, opinions and ideas on issues which will affect our customers and business partners.

History

In Shanghai, in 1903, a Norwegian ship broker named Haakon Wallem founded what was to become the Wallem Group. Two years later Haakon Wallem acquired his first ship, the SS Oscar II; a 4,750 dwt sail-assisted steamer built in 1893.

Today Wallem is headquartered in Hong Kong and delivers a wide range of solutions to the global maritime industry. The Wallem name is synonymous with quality, reliability and expertise gained over 115 years.

Haakon Wallem soon saw opportunities in other maritime services and in 1908 Wallem was appointed to manage two sister ships for Ping An Steamship, the SS Chingtufu and SS Tsinanfu, both employed in the coal trade on the Chinese coast. This effectively made Wallem the first third party ship manager in the world.

Wallem continued to grow, building their first vessels for global tramping, the SS Storviken in 1917 and the SS Erviken in 1921.

In 1925 Wallem opened its Hong Kong office and a decade later moved into offices in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank building. By 1938 the Wallem-owned fleet had grown to 15 ships totaling 47,101 dwt. New offices followed in Japan, India, Singapore and Vietnam.

In 1951 the legend that was Haakon Wallem passed away in his home in Bergen, Norway. Having laid strong foundations, Wallem continued to grow their managed fleet and by 1965 was managing around 40 ships.

At this point, dedicated companies were set up for Ship Agency (1963) and Ship Management (1971) to complement the well-established and thriving Shipbroking business. The establishment of Wallem Ship Management Limited coincided with taking a brand new fleet of ten product tankers into technical management.

In 1980 Wallem was awarded the management of the Jahre Viking, which at 564,763 dwt. was the world’s largest ship. By 1981 Wallem had been acquired by Hill Samuel and at the time was recognized by Lloyd’s List as the “world’s largest ship management concern”.

Today, the Wallem Group offers a range of services that includes technical management, crew management, commercial management, ship agency and other maritime services.

In 2006 the Company came back to family ownership. It was acquired by Tom Steckmest (great-grandson of Wallem’s founder and ship owner) and Nigel Hill (shipping financier and investor).

The owners continue to be focused on organic growth at a sustainable pace which will allow the Company to maintain service quality for its clients.