(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) V.Group, a global leader in ship management and marine services, proudly marks its 40th anniversary this month. This milestone comes as V.Group embarks on a new phase of growth, supported by its recent transition in ownership under a consortium led by STAR Capital, including Ackermans & van Haaren. This acquisition, completed in June 2024, is set to strengthen V.Group’s financial foundation and accelerate its strategic initiatives.
From its founding in 1984 with a modest fleet of 35 vessels, V.Group has expanded dramatically to oversee a diverse fleet of more than 3,500 ships. Today, its operations span the tanker, gas carrier, bulk, container, cruise, and offshore segments, making V.Group one of the most versatile and influential entities in global maritime management. This growth is driven by V.Group’s commitment to safety, innovation, and a partnership philosophy that has earned it the reputation as the “Committed Partner of Progress for Everything at Sea.”
Equipped with a solid capital structure, a wealth of industry expertise, and an unmatched global presence, V.Group is poised to guide the shipping sector through an increasingly complex landscape. This includes addressing a host of challenges: meeting evolving regulatory standards, managing geopolitical risks, advancing decarbonization goals, and implementing extensive digital transformation across operations.
A cornerstone of V.Group’s operation is its workforce, which includes over 44,000 seafarers from all maritime sectors, supported by a robust onshore team of approximately 3,000 professionals in over 30 countries. Many of these onshore team members are former crew members, exemplifying V.Group’s commitment to facilitating ship-to-shore career progression. Such dedication to workforce development has fostered high retention rates, with over 90% retention among senior officers.
V.Group’s approach to workforce care includes prioritizing recruitment, wellbeing, and comprehensive training programs. Its services extend to supporting both physical and mental health, offering digital payment solutions, and enabling career advancement through specialized training. These efforts underscore V.Group’s holistic view of crew welfare, ensuring the wellbeing and stability of those at sea.
In recent years, V.Group has expanded its V.Services portfolio into a comprehensive suite of marine solutions that serves clients across ship management, crew welfare, supply chain logistics, technical services, and insurance. This end-to-end approach enables clients to benefit from a cohesive, integrated solution that meets a full spectrum of maritime needs.
V.Group has also embraced digital transformation with significant investments, notably through its ShipSure platform. This cutting-edge platform combines V.Group’s extensive historical data with machine learning and human expertise to enhance decision-making. By optimizing energy use, assessing vessel performance, spotting trends, and predicting future outcomes, ShipSure empowers clients to manage vessels, voyages, and crew with greater efficiency and foresight.
As it celebrates four decades of dedication to the maritime industry, V.Group reaffirms its commitment to safe, reliable, and forward-thinking operations, positioning itself as an essential partner in advancing the global shipping sector.
Commenting on the milestone, René Kofod-Olsen, CEO, V.Group, said:
“The last 40 years have been a rehearsal for the success to come over the next 40 years and beyond. As the industry continues to transform at an exceptional pace, our mantra remains as important as ever: ‘Never Not Act’. We’re at the ready to support our clients in navigating the industry’s complexities, backed by our proven track record, global scale, and digital-first way of working. It’s a strategy we’re laser focused on, as we continue to enable safe, profitable and sustainable operations.”
source: maritimecyprus.com
