Norwegian shipowner Wilhelm Wilhelmsen has died suddenly at the age of 82.
He was a significant figure in Norwegian shipping for over 40 years, as the fourth-generation leader of the originally Tonsberg-based family company, Wilh Wilhelmsen.
He developed the family concern from a diverse shipowning group with interests in several segments, including tankers and bulkers, into a leading player in vehicle shipping and maritime services globally.
In recent weeks internal family arguments over the ownership and future shape of the group had broken into public, but the family factions have put that aside in the shadow of the death.
In a statement quoted by Dagens Naeringsliv, Catherine Lovenskiold Wilhelmsen said: "This is a terribly sad message. We are deeply saddened by the passing of our uncle and brother.
"Our thoughts and deepest compassion go to our aunt who has lost her husband, to Monica, Julie and Thomas who have lost their father, and their children who have lost their grandfather," continued the statement issued on behalf of her sisters, cousins, mother and aunt.
"The business disagreement within the family is just now immaterial," she concluded.
Wilhelmsen worked in the family company for almost all of his professional life and became partner in 1964. He acted as chairman from 1992 to 2010, apart from three years as chief executive from 2000 to 2003.
The company headquarters is now at Lysaker after being for years located in Vika in the centre of Oslo.
Through acquisitions and organic growth, Wilh Wilhelmsen became a major supplier of chemicals and equipment to the world’s merchant fleet and created a world wide agency company.
It also set up a separate company for technical management of its own and external vessels.
Car carrier giant
Wilh Wilhelmsen and its Swedish partner Wallenius grew into the world’s largest car carrier operator. An important strategic move was the purchase of the car carrier company Den norske Amerikalinje in 1995.
But 35 years ago, the group faced a crisis due to heavy investments in drilling rigs and offshore service vessels, in addition to continued poor markets in conventional shipping.
Several companies in the group had to negotiate terms with their banks to avoid collapse, and Wilhelmsen played a key role in ensuring the group remained solvent.
In 1989, the shipowner had to tackle the catastrophe that hit Wilhelmsen Lines when a chartered plane from the company Partnair crashed near Hirtshals, Denmark, and all 55 on board lost their lives.
Most of the 50 passengers were Wilhelmsen employees on their way to Hamburg for the delivery of a vessel. Almost the whole leadership team in the liner company were killed.
Wilhelmsen's son Thomas is the Wilhelmsen Group's current chief executive officer.
The family ownership is held by four different branches of the family, but the only voting share has been held by Wilhelm Wilhelmsen.
Carnegie has been retained by some family members to help find a solution to increase their influence.
