Sanko and Hellespont form jv for offshore services

The Singapore subsidiaries of Japan's Sanko Steamship and Germany's Hellespont Group have formed a joint venture company for manning and ship management services to their offshore fleets. The joint venture firm Sanko-Hellespont Offshore Management was formed by Sanko Ship Management (Singapore) and Hellespont Singapore last week. “This joint venture gives both companies economies of scale in delivering that expertise, and allows us to attract and retain a greater pool of experienced and capable offshore seafarers,” said Andrew Lidgard, ceo of Hellespont. The new company will initially offer manning and ship management services to four 12,250 BHP anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS) and four 3,250 dwt platform supply vessels (PSV), plus a further four new 16,320 BHP AHTS and four new 4,700 dwt PSV. More vessels will enter this joint venture during 2011 to 2012, making a total of about 20 units.