Maritime Partner Reaches 2000th Vessel Landmark

Rapidly expanding Norwegian boat builder Maritime Partner is set to reach a major landmark in its history as it completes the construction of its 2000th vessel since founding in 1994.

Maritime Partner CEO Peder Myklebust said the Aalesund based company is ‘immensely proud’ that its 2000th boat will be delivered to its long standing client and fellow Norwegian company the shipbuilder Kleven.

Mr. Myklebust said the 2000th boat is part an order Kleven placed in December 2014 for six Seabear 23 MkIIIs and six Macgregor AC38 davits.   He said the Seabear 23 MkIIIs will be installed on board 95m long anchor handlers that Kleven is building for Maersk Supply Service, another long standing customer of Maritime Partner. The Seabear 23MKIII is equipped with a Volvo penta D3 engine of 200hp, a Naiad Vosper PP90 water jet and has a top speed of 34-36 knots.

“This milestone comes at a hugely exciting time for Maritime Partner as we plan growth at home and overseas,” he said. “It is very fitting, however, that our 2000th boat should go to Kleven and be installed on Maersk ship.   Maritime Partner’s success has been built on long standing loyal relationships. And Kleven and Maersk are very much at the heart of our business together with Vard, Farstad Shipping, Havila and the Swire Group. These are the companies that create the basis of what we do and enable us to invest further, build larger boats and expand our operations and workforce which has grown to 60.”

Mr. Myklebust said the deal with Kleven and Maersk Supply Services also includes options for a further four vessels. In addition, four Seabear 23MkIII’s will be supplied to Maersk through the Chinese shipyard Cosco.

“As a measure of the strength of our relationship with Kleven since 2008 it has ordered 103 boats with Maritime Partner,” he said. “Meanwhile, Maersk Supply Services uses our Seabear 23 boats on all its ships that require fast rescue craft and has ordered 63 boats from us in total, 53 of them the Seabear 23 MkIII design.”

Mr. Myklebust said it is vital Maritime Partner builds for the future while it has a strong order book of 300 million NOK (38.36 million USD) and a 2014 turnover of 310 million NOK (39.36 million USD).

“Maritime Partner is growing but we must adapt to the changing nature of the world economy,” he said. “While we have a large offshore order book today, oil prices are down and we expect fewer orders from the oil industry in 2016 and 2017. Nevertheless we are still budgeting for growth in 2015 and 2016. This will be driven, in no small part, by the defense and search and rescue (SAR) market which now accounts for half of turnover.  We are well positioned in the military, coastguard, SAR, pilotage, police and fire and harbor services sectors with an unmatched range of large and small rescue and patrol boats.”

Mr. Myklebust said Maritime Partner’s commitment to the customer and the highest standards gave it a competitive edge.

“Our boats give customers huge confidence because they are built to the very highest standards of North Sea conditions,” he said. “Moreover, we are an entirely customer focused business.  We offer in depth training and we have invested heavily in developing a sales and servicing network worldwide which can react rapidly to any customer need.  We believe we offer the best standards and customer support in our industry.”