MERCATOR CREWING
From left: Bethsy Lussand, Ingrid Helene Reine, Tamara Fulterer, Ann Margaret Egge Ferkingstad, Sissel Tangjerd and Roald Larsen. Siv Halvorsen was not present at the photoshoot.
Mercator Crewing is the name of a new, important partner of Østensjø Rederi. Johannes Østensjø dy AS is the majority owner but Managing Director, Roald Larsen explains that the crewing company is its own entity, and works for several shipping companies.
- We were lucky enough to keep all four employees from Åkra, says Roald Larsen, who along with two other employees from Østensjø, relocated to the then newly acquired company. - We have taken over the task of managing almost all the foreign Østensjø Rederi personnel. When it comes to Østensjø, they handle the management of its Norwegian and English crew by themselves, he points out.
THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND
Last winter and spring, Østensjø assessed a number of crew suppliers. The idea was to form a closer relationship with a supplier in order to influence the quality, routines, delivery precision and tidy salary- and working conditions. - In other words, securing firmer control of the entire value chain, says Managing Director Roald Larsen. Johannes Østensjø acquired Norwegian Maritime Services AS in May last year. The Karmøy-based company had then been operational since 2005, having built a considerable customer portfolio of shipping- and offshore companies.
The goal has always been to expand both the ownership and the customer base. For many years, Møkster has been a significant client for Mercator Crewing, and I am happy to see them take 20 percent ownership now. - The idea is to develop a modern, trimmed international crewing company that operates close with clients, giving them control over deliveries. That’s one of the reasons we’re keeping a professional distance to Østensjø. We will serve all our clients in the best possible way, independently of who our owner is.
MOVED CLOSER
- How complicated is it, in these “corona times”, to recruit foreign employees? - Working for Norwegian shipping companies is an attractive job. Recruitment is going well. When we acquired Norwegian Maritime Services, nearly all the crew came along. They wanted to keep their tidy conditions and predictability. We treat them well, he says. - And the collective agreements are followed?
The new owner brought the employees along when they moved the business and its office to Haugesund a few months later. By then, the company was given a new name, Mercator Crewing. The company is now located in Strandgata, with its own entrance and reception separate from Østensjø, but still close enough to ease communication with the main Østensjø Rederi office by Smedasundet. 34
ØSTENSJØ REDERI
ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYER
