ANGLO-EASTERN LEISURE MANAGEMENT
CONQUERING THE CRUISE INDUSTRY Powered by Inside Marine
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Anglo-Eastern Leisure Management has evolved from a pivotal acquisition within the marine industry. Previously under the name CMI Leisure, AELM (in partnership with its counterpart Cruise Management), is leading parent company Anglo-Eastern into previously unchartered waters. AELM’s President & CEO Dietmar Wertanzl, AECMI’s President & CEO Sanjay Sukhrani and Anglo-Eastern’s COO Carsten Ostenfeldt explained more about this momentous transition in an exclusive interview with Inside Marine. Report by Imogen Ward.
Management International
O
its footprint within the ship management
(CMI), the newly formed Anglo-
segment,” President & CEO of AELM
Eastern Leisure Management (AELM)
Dietmar Wertanzl explained. “The com-
and Cruise Management (AECMI) are
pany really wanted to show the world
perfectly positioned to offer plain sailing
that it can manage any ship. Having
from their home base in Miami.
previously never set foot in this area,
riginally established as Cruise
“Anglo-Eastern was looking to expand
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Anglo-Eastern needed a partner who was
and technical management services.
experienced and capable. That’s really
Whether operating dry bulk carriers, con-
where CMI entered the picture.”
tainer ships or tankers, Anglo-Eastern has it covered. Now, with the acquisition of CMI
Managing expectations
and its sister company CMI Leisure, Anglo-
With almost 50 years’ experience in ship
Eastern has the cruise sector covered too.
management, Anglo-Eastern is a popular
“The cruise industry is very demanding,
choice for those in search of ship, crew
especially for smaller companies,” said COO of Anglo-Eastern Carsten Ostenfeldt. “However, it is a natural space for a ship manager of our size; we have a considerable footprint in various parts
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of the world, and we have the resources to provide a comprehensive service, right down to the seafarers. “From our huge pre-sea academy in India, we train 500 cadets every year.” Training is just one of the many areas Anglo-Eastern’s experience shines through. The new divisions believe this will be an asset to the cruise sector. “In this post-pandemic recovery phase, we don’t have the same seafarer numbers we used to,” President & CEO of AECMI Sanjay Sukhrani said. “They all transferred out when the cruise industry was on lockdown. “The challenge is getting talent back into the business and building a strong pipeline from engine room to boardroom; that’s something Anglo-Eastern really excels at.” For Anglo-Eastern the cruise segment was the last area left unconquered. Initially a board member for CMI, Mr Ostenfeldt already had an understanding of the company’s capabilities and a strong
Fun fact:
confidence in its vision for the cruise sector.
This acquisition was first announced at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023, which was Anglo-Eastern’s first experience of a cruise event.
“This sector was the last notch missing from our belt,” Mr Ostenfeldt explained. “Over the years, we had discussed entering the cruise sector from scratch, but there are lots of challenges involved with that. When the opportunity to purchase CMI first surfaced, it was a golden moment. The two
This was also a first for Mr Sukhrani. He described the cruise event as an incredible experience that provided the perfect opportunity to learn about the latest industry developments.
companies were experts at what they do, and for that reason, we were confident that
As a ship management company, Anglo-
they could successfully guide us into the
Eastern has the capacity to manage more
industry, and we could build from there.”
than 650 ships at any given time, with more
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than 17,000 crew members in total: because
experience, and to this day it’s a learning
of this, the scale of Anglo-Eastern is more
curve; but it’s a very exciting journey that
than geared up to take on the cruise sector.
is beneficial for everyone involved.”
“The volume of everything we do is
AECMI also offers expertise in compli-
massive,” Mr Ostenfeldt said. “That greatly
ance, port planning, crewing, procurement
benefits our new Miami base because
and finance capabilities.
they now have access to our resources.”
“The cruise industry is in the business
“Anglo-Eastern is a huge company, with
of creating experiences for passengers,”
brilliant resources,” Mr Wertanzl added.
said Mr Sukhrani. “We lead with that
“To have these platforms available to plug
knowledge. It’s all about creating that
into is definitely an advantage for us.”
experience, from the quality of the carpets and the food to the ambience and air
Diving into cruise management
conditioning. Anglo-Eastern brings scale
Both of Anglo-Eastern’s new divisions
and scope to the table. The company has
had their own expertise within the cruise
immense resources, including very talented
industry. The technical side came under
people who have successfully delivered
AECMI’s jurisdiction, and headed by Mr
excellent products in various other sectors.
Sukhrani, the company was in safe hands.
There’s no reason why they can’t take that
“My experience does not originate
and apply it to the cruise industry as well.”
from the ship management sector,” Mr Sukhrani explained. “I spent my entire
All the bells and whistles
career on the ownership side; in fact,
Anglo-Eastern’s new leisure management
I was one of Anglo-Eastern’s largest
division offers the full package of cus-
customers. When the company’s leaders
tomised hotel management, culinary
first approached me with the opportunity
expertise, logistics and unique services
to lead Cruise Management, I asked them
dedicated to the niche and expedition
to consider my lack of experience in the
side of the cruise sector.
cruise sector.”
“A cruise ship is effectively a floating
“The company assured me that they
hotel,” Mr Wertanzl said. “At the end of the
needed someone who not only understood
day, we are in the vacation business; we
Anglo-Eastern’s culture, but also understood
have a niche, we have an established client
ship management from both a customer-
base, and we have a positive outlook on the
and owner-perspective. I had that unique
progression of the cruise industry.
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“We are known for our expertise in the
presence further. We have worked in
small ship expedition sector, and having
this area for many years, but we see an
Anglo-Eastern’s backing is of great value,
opportunity to really tap into our Miami
it will enable us to grow and expand
base’s expertise. We expect this naviga-
that niche and other segments.”
tion to be based in Canada, and for it to
AELM endeavours to continue on this
be gradually expanded out to other
journey in a way that is respectful of the
locations where we have experience.”
environment, and it fully understands the
Going forward, with the help of sup-
importance of these locations – both for
pliers, AELM plans to continue offering
the tourists and for those living there.
extreme expeditions.
“When it comes to sustainability, Anglo-
“Our suppliers are critical when entering
Eastern always goes above and beyond
these extreme locations,” Mr Wertanzl
compliance,” Mr Wertanzl said. “That’s
said. “Knowledge is number one, and
really important to us, because we want
you’ve got to know and trust who you’re
to sustain these destinations for everyone’s
dealing with.
sake. These places are our home away from
We are lucky enough to have amazing
home, and we want to protect that.”
suppliers that we can trust, who really
“The leisure side ensures that guests are having a good and memorable experience,”
help us deliver these special and unique experiences.
Mr Ostenfeldt added. “By combining our
“I am sure this will be magnified
expertise and resources, we can start to
under Anglo-Eastern,” he concluded.
assess the possibility of further expansion.
“So far, working under this company
“Ice navigation is one area where
has been an extremely positive and
we are interested in expanding our
enjoyable experience.”
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