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Faroe Agency: The Heat Is On |
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Archives -
2007 Archive
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Written by B. Tyril
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Tuesday, 22 May 2007 |
A couple of years since founded, Faroe Agency finds itself hiring more personnel to handle the workload of increased docking activities among foreign vessels calling at Faroese ports — consolidating its position as the country’s leading shipping agency.
It didn’t take long to establish Faroe Agency as the leading shipping agency in the Faroes, yet the challenge of managing rapid growth is becoming very real according to the company. Little more than two years after the agency opened for business, the pressure is mounting to hire more people as client vessels are frequenting Faroese docks with increasing demand for services.
Headed by the Honorary Consul of Russia to the Faroe Islands, Árni Dam, together with partners Karl-Erik Reynheim and Maria á Lava, Faroe Agency has employed Alexander Kuzkin to replace a former fourth member of the team; subsequently, the likewise Russian-born Sergey Lutov joined the company.
“We had a very good 2006,” Mr Reynheim said. “Business activities are growing by the month and we are challenged with larger and more complex assignments, all of which is perfectly in line with what we have planned for and anticipated — we see great opportunities and if this trend continues, which it’s likely to do, we’ll be hiring more people within the near future. Making sure operations remain efficient and services effective while the at same time the business is growing has become a priority.”
It’s no coincident that two of Faroe Agency’s employees are native Russians and able to communicate fluently in that language. A large proportion of Faroe Agency’s client vessels are Russian ships calling at Faroese ports, although the company serves vessels from many other countries as well.
Services include management, customs clearance, freight forwarding, chartering, arrangements for supplies, repairs, bunkering and more, in addition to crew changes, health care and safety related issues. Serving foreign vessels that enter Faroese waters represents much of the revenues earned, however helping domestic companies and sometimes their overseas business partners arrange for shipments and related tasks likewise forms part of day-to-day operations.
Said Mr Reynheim: “Liner services, for instance, are not within the usual range of service products we offer but, on the other hand, we are strong in areas such as tramp shipping, export services, reefer logistics and stevedoring.”
The Honorary Consul of Russia Mr Dam added: “Our experience in working with leading international companies is extensive, and we offer a full spectrum of services, including domestic and international chartering. We are used to chartering anything — passenger airplanes, container ships, bulk freighters… you name it.”
Mr Dam pointed out that the Faroe Agency team and its individual members have decades of experience in dealing with sea vessels of all types.
Another competitive advantage is seen in Faroe Agency’s in-depth local area knowledge; staying well connected to leaders of businesses as well as municipal and domestic government authorities is regarded as essential. It’s a field in which few can rival Mr Dam; at 75, his list of long-standing contacts constitutes a business asset in itself.
As a former sea captain, he pioneered the agency business more than 35 years ago, taking care of Russian vessels calling at Faroese ports. Today, Russian ships every year make between five hundred and one thousand calls at these ports.
Part of what may explain Faroe Agency’s business growth is related to the fact that berthing, in some ports, is no longer as costly as it would have been earlier — a sign of success resulting from long years of lobbying by Faroe Agency. Likewise relevant, though, could be the realization by a growing number of clients that sometimes it pays to go to shore rather than staying anchored in the roadstead.
“The scope and scale of services traded tends to grow when a ship docks, as a matter of natural instinct perhaps; people want to make use of the opportunity to get things done. Once a ship is berthed, a number of things that otherwise would have been put off will be undertaken — these range from safety inspections to engine checks and repairs to all sorts of maintenance, supplies and so on. Making effective use of time is extremely important for the vessels and this is where I believe our services offer the best value.”
Another factor set to increase maritime activities is the current development of bunkering facilities.
Mr Reynheim added: “Ships will be able to receive heavy fuel oil in Faroese ports, which will make life easier for many; it will also reduce the potential environmental hazards of bunkering at sea.”
Link to pdf presentation...
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