Graig to manage Chinese-owned vessel

Cardiff-based Graig Ship Management Limited has taken delivery of the 79,600 dwt bulk-carrier King Peace, for which it is providing full technical management and crewing on behalf of Shanghai-based Zhong An Shipping. The vessel was built at China’s Wu Jia Zui Shipyard under the supervision of Graig China Ltd.

Ian Morgan, ceo of Graig Ship Management, says, “This is an important new contract, because it is the first for us as a UK ship manager to manage a Chinese-owned, Chinese-built and Chinese-crewed vessel. It makes a lot of sense, we know the ship inside out because we helped build it, we know bulk carriers and we know China. China is a massive market for maritime expertise and we see this as a first step to a growing business becoming a local ship manager for Chinese owners.”

Managing ships for Chinese owners is a logical step for Graig, which began business in China in 1995, building ships there for itself, then building up expertise in newbuilding supervision and Chinese yard capabilities to help other Western owners to get the best out of China. The next step was to help Chinese yards with new designs, such as the Diamond bulk carriers, and to supervise newbuildings for Chinese owners.

Twenty-two of Graig’s current newbuilding supervision contracts are for Chinese owners, a series of eighteen 76,000 dwt bulkers being built at Jiangsu Rongsheng for Minsheng Financial Leasing Co and four 45,000 dwt bulkers for Shanghai Xiang An Electric Power Shipping Co being built at Chengxi Shipyard. Says Morgan, “We hope to build on this expertise in China to help more Chinese owners to build good ships and manage them efficiently in the global marketplace.”

The Graig Group is a broad-based international shipowning and shipping services group delivering technical and commercial ship management, newbuilding supervision, lay-up services, ship design, ship owning and ship finance to global clients who appreciate personal service.

Graig has been building, managing and owning ships since 1919. Today it provides technical management and crewing for a mixed fleet of vessels on behalf of a number of owners. It has supervised over 120 newbuildings for itself and major shipowners. It provides technical consultancy services to a major European bank with a portfolio of 90 vessels. It develops innovative designs such as the Diamond bulk carriers and it can source yards and finance and provide newbuilding supervision and follow up with in service management. Based in the UK, Graig has offices in Cardiff, London, Shanghai and Singapore.

You can use the download button to get a hi res photo of the King Peace from:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/Graig

or e mail john@merlinco.com

For more information contact:
Ian Morgan
Graig
44 2920 440 200
ian.morgan@graig.com

Wikborg Rein expands capabilities with Brazil alliance

LEADING international law firm Wikborg Rein has concluded an alliance with one of Brazil’s leading law firms, Vieira, Rezende, Barbosa e Guerreiro Advogados (VRBG), which will have significant benefits for the international clients of both firms.

The best friend alliance agreement between the two firms will include co-operation on client referrals and joint assignments, and will also involve the exchange of lawyers and competence building.

Wikborg Rein Global Managing Partner, Susanne Munch Thore, says, “Brazil has developed into a high-priority market for many of our clients, and it is important that, as a leading provider of international legal services, we have the capacity to support our clients wherever business takes them.

“This is the first time one of the top international shipping and offshore oil & gas firms has made a commitment like this. It demonstrates our understanding of the commercial realities of the market, and where growth will come from for our clients.”

Partner Finn Bjørnstad, who will shortly be taking up the role of managing partner in Wikborg Rein's London office, has considerable experience in supporting clients in Brazil. He says, “VRBG is internationally recognised as one of Brazil’s leading law firms, with an excellent track record in the offshore oil and gas sector. It is ideally placed to work with international clients looking to develop opportunities in a market with such great potential.”

For a number of years, Wikborg Rein has supported its clients as they have developed their Brazilian business interests, specifically in the offshore oil & gas sector. However, with an increase in offshore oil & gas investment in Brazil, it recognised that there was a need to provide high-quality ‘on the ground’ legal support.

From June 2011, Wikborg Rein will have one senior lawyer working out of the VRBG office in Rio de Janeiro, and VRBG will have one lawyer working out of the Wikborg Rein office in Shanghai.

The alliance will have major benefits for the international clients of both firms. Geir Sviggum, the partner who heads up Wikborg Rein’s Shanghai office, sees significant advantages in this relationship as links between China and Brazil develop. He says, “The transfer of skills, knowledge, and people will provide both firms’ clients with access to advisers who have extensive offshore oil and gas experience, and who really understand the key issues in two of the world’s most significant developing markets - China and Brazil.

"Our Shanghai office already provides support to Chinese clients looking to develop their interests in Brazil. This agreement cements our position as global leaders in this area.”

Chris Grieveson, a partner in Wikborg Rein’s Singapore office, meanwhile notes, “I believe we are now in a position to provide an unrivalled service. If you are based in wider Asia and are looking to develop your business in Brazil, come and discuss it with us. We have a Brazilian expert sitting in our offices.”

This agreement secures Wikborg Rein’s clients access to the best legal resources in Brazil, and will be a platform for Wikborg Rein to continue to add value to its clients’ business interests.

Read more about Wikborg Rein's Brazil team at http://www.wr.no/ and about VRBG at http://www.vrbg.com.br/

About Wikborg Rein

Established in 1923 with large offices in Oslo and Bergen, and employing 215 lawyers worldwide, Wikborg Rein is one of Norway’s leading full service commercial law firms. It is a pre-eminent law firm in the shipping and offshore sector, and a major player on the international scene. Services to the maritime industry include ship, project and lease finance, corporate, contract negotiation, offshore and construction projects, sale and purchase, ship registration, insurance, casualty response, carriage of goods, ship arrest and international dispute resolution. More information on the firm and its partners can be found at www.wr.no

For further information:

Susanne Munch Thore
Managing Partner, Wikborg Rein (Norway)
Tel: (+47) 22 82 76 18
Mobile: (+47) 911 36 899 Email: smt@wr.no

Geir Sviggum
Partner (Shanghai)
Tel: (+86) 21 6339
Mobile: (+86) 13 9186 13473 Email: gsv@wrco.com.cn

Chris Grieveson
Partner (Singapore)
Tel: (+65) 6438 4498Mobile: (+65) 9112 8445 Email: cjg@wr.com.sg

Graig wins major Chinese newbuilding contract

Shanghai-based Graig China, part of the UK’s Graig group, has won a ten-ship order to supervise newbuildings for Chinese leasing company Minsheng Financial Leasing Co Ltd.

The supervision contract brings to twenty-three the number of Chinese-owned vessels building in Chinese shipyards under the supervision of Graig.

The new contract is to supervise the construction of ten 76,000 dwt bulk carriers to be built at Jiangsu Rong Sheng Heavy Industries Co Ltd, with delivery of the final vessel scheduled for the first quarter of 2012. The ten are in addition to the eight vessels already under construction under Graig supervision for Minsheng at the same yard.

Graig China is also supervising the construction of four 45,000 dwt bulkers for Shanghai Xiang An Electric Power Shipping Co being built at Chengxi Shipyard and the 79,600 dwt bulk-carrier King Peace, building at China’s Wu Jai Zui Shipyard for Shanghai-based Zhong An Shipping.

John Coffin, CEO, Graig China, says, “Chinese owners are now turning to Graig for its newbuilding expertise in China for the same reasons that numerous owners outside China have entrusted us with the supervision of over 120 newbuildings in the last fifteen years. It is our knowledge of Chinese shipyards and our ability to understand both the yard and the owners’ needs that ensures vessels are built to owners’ requirements.

"These big contracts for emerging Chinese shipping players are important, because they recognise our expertise here and our place in China as a local provider of global quality services and expertise.”

In addition to the twenty-three ships now under supervision for Chinese owners, Graig China is currently supervising around 50 vessels on behalf of ten international owners.

The Graig Group is a broad-based international shipowning and shipping services group delivering technical and commercial ship management, newbuilding supervision, lay-up services, ship design, ship owning and ship finance to global clients who appreciate personal service.

Graig has been building, managing and owning ships since 1919. Today it provides technical management and crewing for a mixed fleet of vessels on behalf of a number of owners. It has supervised over 120 newbuildings for itself and major shipowners. It provides technical consultancy services to a major European bank with a portfolio of 90 vessels. It develops innovative designs such as the Diamond bulk carriers and it can source yards and finance and provide newbuilding supervision and follow up with in-service management. Based in the UK, Graig has offices in Cardiff, London, Shanghai and Singapore. www.graig.com

For more information contact: John Coffin Graig China +86 21 6219 5055 john.coffin@graig.com