The Tradewinds Maritime Outsourcing Forum opens on 18 November 2008. The key issue under discussion will be the shortage of skilled personnel, and the possibility of using outsourcing in order to overcome this. Wilhelmsen Ships Service will be well represented in the discussions, and Bjorn Tonsberg (Vice President, Asia region) will be giving a speech entitled “Turnkey outsourcing – who really benefits from the new spin on ship management?”
In the present economic climate, outsourcing is attracting considerable attention, as ship operators look at new ways of cutting costs. For owners facing serious cost pressures, crew challenges, integrating newbuildings into existing fleets and an uncertain world trade outlook, many operators are re-examining all aspects of maritime outsourcing. In some cases, they are choosing to outsource even greater components of their business, and in others, they are bringing back outsourced activities in house.
Our role is crucial in these discussions, both in terms of advising what we believe to be the best course of action for our customers, and in providing efficient services to companies wanting to outsource.