Frode Winum (27), who is just about to complete a two-year maritime trainee programme sponsored by Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA, is about to take on the role as International Cylinder Manager for Wilhelmsen Ships Service. This company has a worldwide stock of 512,000 gas cylinders. Two thirds of these are on board the world’s ocean-going fleet, and the remainder are in warehouses, or being refilled.
“This is a huge responsibility for a young man to take on,” said Bernd Bauer, Business Director in Wilhelmsen Ships Service. “The stock of cylinders is worth over $85,000,000, and is our company’s biggest single tangible asset. From having observed his performance during the training programme, we have every confidence in Frode. The programme gives our employees a chance to experience working in a variety of different Wilh. Wilhelmsen companies in different parts of the world. He has gained an insight into the shipping business from a ship management perspective as well as ships service. He has also had extensive experience in project management and financial reporting."
“What I count as the biggest benefit is the experience he has gained of our company values. It is difficult to teach company values to a new manager – you really have to live these on a daily basis in order for them to become part of your way of doing business. Our corporate values are the main reason why Wilhelmsen Ships Service is so successful and it is vitally important that all our managers enthusiastically embrace these values.”
Frode spent 6 months in Singapore last year as part of his management training, so is no stranger to the work environment in this part of the world. He takes up his new position on 23 March, and will immediately start work on a project to extend the usage of the unique Unitrack system of cylinder location monitoring.
On behalf of the maritime industry in Norway, Norges Rederiforbund launched a two-year trainee programme in August 2005. The WW-group has been part of it from the start and at present we have four trainees in the system. The programme seeks to give each trainee a basic understanding of numerous functions within the maritime industry at an early stage of his or her career. The trainees all hold master's degrees in economics, technology or law.
Further information from:
Terje Nygard, Vice President HR, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, Tel: 47 67 58 40 00, terje.nygard@wilhelmsen.com
Solveig Saether, Marketing Manager, Wilhelmsen Ships Service,
Telephone +47 67 58 45 78 (office), +47 90 63 49 77 (mobile) solveig.d.saether@wilhelmsen.com