Hong Kong shipowner Wah Kwong has expanded in Europe once more with the establishment of a new office in Italy.
Managing director Zhou Jianfeng said in the company’s latest diversity and resilience report: “I am pleased to announce the establishment of ship management presence in Genoa.”
“This strategic move broadens our service networks and strengthens our European footprint. The offshore service expertise of the Genoa team brings new capabilities to Wah Kwong, positioning us to better serve our clients and tap into the emerging offshore markets.”
The office will specialise in technical management.
The company’s other managing director, William Fairclough, said the group’s three business units, shipowning, operating and management, have been supported by the growth of the London office that opened last year.
This base has become the centre of the group’s sustainability initiatives and alternative investment activities.
Expertise will now be offered in Genoa across a range of sectors, including offshore, cruise and passenger markets “to enhance our global footprint and expand the range of services we are able to offer to clients worldwide,” he added.
In addition to the Hong Kong headquarters, Wah Kwong has an office in Shenzhen, China, where a lot of its bulker business takes place.
The owned fleet has grown to 23 ships with the addition of three new ultramax vessels built in China, with another to follow early in 2024.
The fleet includes three VLCCs, four aframaxes and four capesizes, according to the report.
Kamsarmaxes, ultramaxes and supramaxes are also owned, supplemented by other bulkers of these sizes brought in on long-term charters.
There are also 57 managed vessels, including 10 gas carriers and seven container ships.
