Nordic Maritime Services AS
Ship shape
Nordic Maritime Services AS (NMS) was established in Norway in 1998. The company today works in new building, offering skills and expertise in areas such as design appraisal, plan approval, inspection, and construction supervision from its team of experienced naval architects and marine engineers.
From its head office at Lysaker, Oslo, the business offers its services to various shipowners on shipyards located in Asia, the Middle and Far East, the Caribbean and Europe. Successful projects carried out in the past include the design and construction supervision of innovative chemical carriers, oil tankers, gas carriers and offshore support vessels for distinguished ship owners. These include the chemical carriers, Quds and Boraq, which have each been nominated by The Royal Institution of Naval Architects as a Significant Ship in the years 2000 and 2003 respectively. As a ship management agency, NMS is ISM certified by Det norske Veritas for the operation of chemical gas carriers and general cargo ships. With a unique safety and quality management system that has been in place for over ten years, the knowledge gained from NMS’ experience in ship management and operations is applied to its project management activities. These services are offered for new buildings to ensure that the vessels are designed and built to the highest operational standards. As such the business aims to ensure the quality, as well as the timely and cost effective building of new vessels, all the while providing superior and safe operational management to enhance the life cycle and profitability of each vessel.
The business provides a wide range of services within project management and is currently active within new building supervision, including project initiation and planning, plan approval and design appraisal, inspection and construction supervision, and guarantee claim management. These activities are offered by a team of naval architects, marine engineers, structural engineers and former seagoing staff who each have vast experience in their respective fields. NMS’ prime focus is to ensure that the vessels are built according to contract, specifications, class, and statutory and owner requirements.
In a typical project, NMS prepares reports according to clients’ requirements during the project period. These reports are usually provided on a monthly basis and contain details of the key elements of the project presented in a systematic way, with charts, figures, tables and digital photographs of the construction. The company then uses a unique project management system for document and project control, which is developed with close co-operation between head office and site personnel. The system keeps track of drawings, reporting an accurate real time status of the plan’s approval. This is a fundamental tool that ensures all feedback given during the plan approval stage is accounted for and built into the vessel. All work is carried out in accordance with the company’s procedure manual, and offered in compliance with the ISO 9002 standard.
In terms of ship management, NMS offers its services to customers operating fleets of modern chemical carriers and general cargo ships. Within this division, the company’s services include technical management, purchasing, safety management, ISM and ISPS compliance, accounting, and the management of the crew. Within the ship management business, the company operates a fleet of 20 vessels in the Middle and Far East, the Caribbean and Europe, all of which work within the chemical, LPG and general cargo sectors.
Finally, NMS’ business management division offers administration, financial and contractual reporting, shareholder information, as well as hosting and support of IT systems on behalf of clients. The service includes setup and incorporation of new companies; accounting and administration services, including IT; project accounting and controller services; reporting services; annual accounts and tax filing.
In terms of geography, NMS is aiming to consolidate its operations in choice locations around the world. 2008 saw the establishment of a new office in the Emirate of Fujairah to accommodate the company’s customer base in the UAE region. Manned by a team of highly experienced key personnel, the aim of the office is to create tighter control and management of NMS vessels, and to build close and valuable relationships with suppliers and service providers, so that the company can remain an active player in the regional maritime industry.
Within the Far East region, most of NMS’ new buildings are contracted with South Korea. In the interests of further consolidating its work in the Far East, the company is looking to Japan, where it has worked before and is hoping to establish future partnerships. In addition to this the company is currently designing vessels that can work in the Arctic region, as there are opportunities for projects in this area, and current designs are unsuitable for operations on ice.
Owing its success to quality and cost-effective building solutions, the company is an expert in improving the life-cycle profitability of clients’ vessels. With hopes of taking this expertise to new markets, NMS is looking forward to a successful future in ship management operations.
Nordic Maritime Services AS
Services: Design and construction