Wilhelmsen Maritime Services’ “Act” combines maritime’s largest green product concept and network
11.09 2008
Already acknowledged as one of the marine environment front-runners, Wilhelmsen Maritime Services (WMS) is further strengthening its green credentials through the launch of the all-inclusive environmental product concept – “Act” – at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg from 23–26 September.
A single banner
Following on the heels of new environmental legislation coming into force under MARPOL 73/78, the “Act” line of products bundles a number of current and soon-to-come water treatment, emission reduction and waste management systems, products and services under a single banner. The WMS group of companies utilises the industry’s most comprehensive global network to provide customers the entire maritime environmental product value chain.
Although a number of smaller companies are working on solutions in areas such as ballast water treatment, NOx and SOx abatement and garbage compactors, no other maritime company has as vast of an offering as WMS’ Act brand – let alone more than 330 offices in 72 countries that guarantees WMS’ customers the same products and level of service no matter where they are in the world.
“In many cases you will find companies focusing on a single environmental area. We’re appealing to our customer base by delivering a much broader offering, one which encompasses our commitment to improving environmental performance,” says WMS president and CEO Dag Schjerven.
He continues: “Our strategy is to utilise our global presence in order to sell, distribute and service the products in the aftermarket. We’re combining the cuttingedge technologies of partners such as RBT (ballast water), Yara (NOx abatement) and Krystallon (SOx and particulate matter abatement), with the market skills and know-how of the world’s largest maritime services network. This creates a synergy and maritime environmental product package that will shape the industry in the years to come.”
Finding the best maritime environmental technology
From entrepreneurs with ground-breaking ideas to small companies to industrial giants, WMS’ dedicated Act business development group is focused on finding the best maritime environmental technology – no matter how large the technology provider is or where they are located – and bringing it to market.
“We haven’t just fallen across the technologies. Our environmental products have been developed, sourced, found and progressed within this group,” says Schjerven, citing a specific example regarding ballast water treatment systems. “We spent a number of years looking at different technologies and then shortlisted these down to two options. Then we commissioned DNV to make a conclusion on what they thought was the superior option, which we went with. We believe we’ve taken the best of the bunch.”
The choice fell on South Africa’s Resource Ballast Technology’s (RBT) solution, now incorporated into the company’s Unitor Ballast Water Treatment System. The system was recently installed on a test basis on Wilh. Wilhelmsen’s vessel M/V Toronto. The system has also been presented to major Korean shipyards Daewoo, Samsung and STX Shipbuilding at a meeting organised by Hyundai. The Act business development group will be strengthened in the upcoming 3–6 months, helping WMS to not only proactively share applicable environmental rule and regulation information with clients, but also continue to offer them green product solutions that ensure and exceed compliance.