Dutch crewing agency Boers Crew Services began life as a taxi company in 1946, founded by co-chief executive Hans Boers' grandfather.

After his father took over the reins, he started a taxi service exclusively for AP Moller-Maersk vessels.

"So he was the driver for Maersk Line for 27 years," Boers told TradeWinds.

"I was the lucky one, I took over in 1991, and started also with Maersk. Besides Maersk, I was continually finding new clients across the world in the shipping sector."

Hans Boers' wife also did paperwork for the company at home while he was driving, but she had to stop in 2009 due to illness. She sadly passed away in 2011.

In 2004, the company started a move into providing seafarers with letters of invitation (LOIs) for crews at the request of a client the boss was driving in his car.

But the Dutch embassy said it was not possible for a taxi company to apply for crew visas.

"So I asked the lady at the embassy, how can I apply, and she said you have to change your name," Boers explained.

Hence the start of Boers Crew Services, which now handles 40,000 LOIs per year for seafarers, as well as 20,000 crew transfers.

Co-chief executive Peter Smit joined in 2014 and has helped build up the company to 50 staff members today, making sure seafarers get in and out of countries and on and off ships.

"It's two families together now," Boers said.

Asked about retiring, he added: "I will be the old guy and I will visit the office from time to time and still keep the contact I have with people all over the world."

The plan is for Smit to continue and then bring family members through into management.

"We are already talking about this. Let me travel around the world keeping contact with the people, so long as it's possible. I'm not afraid to discuss things with embassy people and immigration people," Boers said.

Turning a no into a yes

Jessica Boers is an accounting executive at Boers Crew Services. Photo: Boers

He describes his approach thus: "When the first time is a no, I always try to turn it to a yes."

The company has kept on serving seafarers during the pandemic lockdowns.

"When the embassies are closed, we can arrange the visa on arrival in Amsterdam. This is an item we have to check nearly every day," Boers said.

"We have good communication with embassy people, we know what is possible. This is our business — to be busy only with crewing."

New base in Germany

The company has just moved into a new Rotterdam office and is setting up a base in neighbouring Germany.

The boss said: "It's better that the local people deal with their immigration services, rather than we talk to German immigration."

As pandemic restrictions end, daughter Jessica Boers, who works in accounts, said changes are afoot.

"We hope Covid is over soon and we can send him [Hans] out of the office," she joked. "It's time to meet people face to face again instead of by screens."