OSM Maritime Group is expanding its shipmanagement operations with another deal in Norway.
The company has agreed to handle the six-ship fleet of Norwegian offshore vessel owner GC Rieber Shipping.
Oslo-listed GC Rieber will hand over all technical, crewing and support functions in Bergen to OSM, which will set up a new ship management company there.
This company will be 100% owned by OSM and based in the OSM Bergen office.
GC Rieber has six ships under management in Bergen, including those third party management.
Clarksons lists it with two multipurpose support ships and two seismic survey ships of its own.
OSM fleet nearing 600 ships
OSM currently has 190 vessels under full technical management and another 400 ships under crewing management.
"The new company will bring together the valuable technical and crewing organisation from GC Rieber Shipping with OSM's global reach and expertise," GC Rieber said.
"The partnership will ensure full and seamless continuity of management."
The start date is 5 October. GC Rieber will then become a pure shipowner and project manager.
"OSM is a highly reputable shipmanagement company and GC Rieber Shipping is proud of playing a key role in OSM building up their offshore presence in Bergen and thereby strengthen the maritime cluster," said GC Rieber chief executive Einar Ytredal.
"GC Rieber Shipping is committed to create value for its customers and shareholders through its proven project and shipowner experience. We look forward to further strengthen this focus following the transfer of ship operations to OSM."
OSM Norway managing director Geir Sekkesaeter added that the companies aim to ensure that, at first, employees and customers experience "business as usual".
"Over time, however, we aim to provide even better services through close interaction between our customers and our knowledgeable and experienced staff and crew, because as we say in OSM, it's all about people," he said.
Bulkers and tankers added
In June, OSM took over the managed fleet of Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi (KGJS), one of Norway's largest private shipowners.
A total of 37 bulkers and tankers were included in the deal, which is all the vessels technically managed by the Hans Peter Jebsen-controlled group.
All 30 staff employed at KGJS's Bergen headquarters were transferred to the newly established OSM Bergen, which will be headed by current KGJS Fleet Management chief executive Ole-Johan Haahjem.
Arendal-based OSM was founded by Bjorn Tore Larsen, who last year stepped away from the day-to-day running of the company, putting Tommy Olofsen in charge as chairman.
In 2018, Oaktree Capital Management took a 49% stake in OSM Maritime, with Larsen retaining his majority stake.
Larsen is also chairman of Oslo-listed ADS Crude Carriers with a fleet of three VLCCs.
OSM was established in 1989 and has 15,000 employees from 50 nationalities.
