In a meeting in Manila on April 18, OSM signed a joint venture agreement with “K” Line’s crewing agency Ventis to provide Filipino crew to “K” Line’s entire fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the relationship between ‘K’ Line group and OSM, in that we have signed an MOU for establishing a JV for ‘K’ Line’s LNG Filipino manning,” said Tommy Olofsen, Managing Director for OSM Crew Management.
When the two companies signed the strategic manning partnership agreement, Managing Director of “K” Line LNG Shipping (UK) Ltd., Yuzuru Goto, said, “We believe this to be an excellent partnership, from a supplier with a genuine maritime heritage, understanding of industry operations and aspirations and understanding of our corporate values and organizational culture. This gives us complete peace of mind for future compliance, dependability and importantly for ‘K’ Line’s safe and environmentally responsible operations.”
The expansion of the partnership that the JV agreement represents confirms OSM’s position in the growing LNG market. Within the next four years the number of “K” Line Group LNG vessels is expected to grow to about 20. Today, OSM have a total of more than 1,000 LNG crew in the crew pool and more than 650 on board.
Olofsen said, “This development cements the strategic manning relationship between our organizations and signifies the high quality of OSM Crew Management to be selected as global manning partner and JV partner for ‘K’ Line.”