The Sanko Steamship Co Ltd and Hellespont Group have entered into a joint venture for manning and/or shipmanagement services to Sanko’s and Hellespont’s offshore fleets through their Singapore subsidiaries.

The Singapore-based joint venture company, Sanko-Hellespont Offshore Management Pte Ltd, owned by Sanko Ship Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Hellespont Singapore Pte Ltd on an equal partnership basis, started operations on 7 March, 2011, and is led by Captain Andrew Lidgard of Hellespont, as CEO and Mr Yasushi Hashimoto of Sanko, as Chairman

Captain Lidgard, who has many years of offshore seagoing experience, agrees with Mr Hashimoto that, “A specialised level of experience and the ability to provide and maintain the most experienced crew is vital to success in the growing market for offshore support vessels. This joint venture gives both companies economies of scale in delivering that expertise, and allows us to attract and retain a greater pool of experienced and capable offshore seafarers.”

Initially, the company will provide manning and /or ship management services to four 12,250 BHP Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels (AHTS) and four 3,250 dwt Platform Supply Vessels (PSV), plus a further four new 16,320 BHP AHTS and four new 4,700 dwt PSV. Some more vessels will enter this Joint Venture during 2011-2012, making a total of about twenty units in all.

Tags: Hellespont group, Sanko Steamship Co Ltd