Leading shipping names gathered at the 21st Hansa Forum in Hamburg to discuss their priorities for the coming year.

Planning ahead, many companies are now positioning themselves to take advantage of opportunities created by a cocktail of low-asset prices, new financing sources and ongoing consolidation.

For a liner operator such as Ocean Network Express (ONE), the priority is to look to the future, said chief executive Jeremy Nixon. ONE will combine the container chartering operations of K Line, MOL and NYK Line.

The focus is to “look forward with innovations in our industry, so more people in the world understand the importance of our industry”, he added.

For tonnage providers such as boxship owner Lomar Shipping, the focus is on riding out the market storm in the hope that charter rates improve, said chief executive Achim Boehme.

Navios Maritime Holdings chief executive Angeliki Frangou reminded the audience of the cyclical nature of the business. The priority is “to be in a position to capture that”, she said. That optimism was shared by Erik Helberg, chief executive of Clarksons Platou Securities. Citing opportunities in the dry bulk and containership segments at today’s asset values, he hinted that more initial public offerings will take place next year.

German managing owner Claus-Peter Offen said there will be opportunities for some time to come in terms of acquisitions, and highlighted a need to access international capital markets.

However for traditional bank financiers, the priority is to reduce their exposure to shipping.

Stefan Ermisch, chief executive at up-for-sale HSH Nordbank, expressed optimism that the bank will find the right partner. He added that having lost money in ship financing in recent years, it will not allow itself to get in to that position again.

That could mean less traditional lending in the German market, but it also creates opportunities for other players.

Chinese leasing companies were looking to expand business with German shipowners, not just the bigger ones, but small and medium-size operators too, said Cruise Chi, executive manager of BoCom Shipping Leasing (Europe).