German shipmanager NSB Group has recruited experienced boxship executive Panneer Selvam to run its new Singapore office.
The move is aimed at consolidating the company's position in the shipping hub and expands its operations throughout South-East Asia.
Selvam has been appointed general/technical manager of NSB Group in the city.
He spent 23 years at Singapore boxship giant Pacific International Lines (PIL), most recently as technical general manager.
The former chief engineer looked after various types of ships as a technical manager, and towards the end of his time at PIL was responsible for the care of more than 120 vessels of up to 11,800 teu.
Long track history
Selvam has also overseen more than 50 new construction projects consisting of container vessels, bulkers and multipurposes, NSB said.
The former Singapore naval officer was project manager at Atlantis Shipyard for a year in the 1990s, following eight years on board Neptune Orient Lines vessels.
Selvam said on social media: "It is my pleasure and [I am] humbled to be given this opportunity to work in NSB. Together we will be able to better contribute with our various partners and offer enhanced services."
Tim Ponath, chief executive of group company Reederei NSB, said Selvam will strengthen NSB's expertise.
"Our customers will particularly benefit from his many years of experience as an engineer at sea, coupled with his excellent background as a fleet manager and new construction supervision," he added.
Global ambitions
TradeWinds has reported Reederei NSB has been taking to the international stage more and more in recent years to reduce the dependence on a declining domestic market.
The Buxtehude-based company underwent a generational change at the start of 2020 that saw Ponath take over as CEO from his father, Helmut, who had built the company into one of the largest shipmanagers in Germany.
Christian Sinz, co-manager of NSB Shipmanagement together with Dirk Kleinekampmann, said: "NSB Shipmanagement is an independent company but works closely with the NSB headquarters. Mr Selvam will contribute to deepening the NSB Group."
He added: "With digital solutions, we use synergies in the technical infrastructure by sharing common databases and systems in our global corporate network."
NSB Group's chief commercial officer Markus Thewes explained that the group is also strengthening in Germany with this step.
German advantage too
"This cooperation gives us a major advantage right now, as business trips to Singapore, the heart of the maritime economy, have been drastically reduced due to the global corona pandemic," he said.
"In addition, there is Selvam's excellent regional expertise, which we can also benefit from on a permanent basis. I'm looking forward to working with Selvam."
In the years when Ponath's father was at the helm, the shipmanager had a constant stream of vessels from KG (limited partnership) issuing houses Conti and Gebab.
KG stream runs dry
But the demise of the KG model and the drift of liner operators to Chinese leasing companies presented a challenge to traditional tonnage providers in Germany.
That was the catalyst for NSB to change to its business model.
The group's quest for an international client base reaped some reward in 2017, when it formed Asia Marine Temas, a joint venture with Temas Line in Indonesia, which left NSB managing 31 vessels out of Jakarta.
Similar moves were said to be on the cards in Shanghai and China.
NSB, which manages a fleet of 81 ships, remains 45% owned by the former owners of the Conti Group of Munich.
Conti was sold to Offen Group in March 2017, but that stake was not included as part of the deal. The Ponath family are also shareholders.
