By
Rebecca Gibson |
Hans Rood, executive vice president, commercial at FleetPro Passenger Ship Management, tells Rebecca Gibson how the combined company will benefit cruise operators
How do ISP and River Advice work together?
FleetPro Passenger Ship Management, formed of International Shipping Partners (ISP) and River Advice, was launched on 1 January 2014 to offer cruise operators extensive ship management services in the luxury, ocean and river cruise sectors. Headquartered in Miami, ISP provides services such as deck and engine manning, maintenance, drydocks, inspections and volume purchases to the passenger shipping industry, while Switzerland-based company River Advice offers vessel management services to operators in the river cruise sector. Our crewing agencies will support manning needs from Limassol, Cyprus and Manila, Philippines.
What services does FleetPro Passenger Ship Management provide to customers?
FleetPro does not compete with its clients in the ownership of vessels, or with their charterers in the sale and marketing of cruises. We provide the behind-the-scenes expertise needed to ensure cruise lines are able to operate efficiently and remain compliant. Our company now manages a fleet of more than 50 river cruise and ocean cruise passenger ships, offering a combination of nautical, technical, insurance, administrative, hotel and catering management services. These services include everything from planning, financing and supervising new ship constructions and refurbishment projects, to handling port services, vessel sales and chartering activities.
How will cruise operators benefit from the new organisation?The combined expertise of our experienced and hands-on teams provides our river and ocean cruise clients with a comprehensive set of services tailored to their individual ships. Through our strong purchasing power and extensive network of connections with banks, brokers, insurance clubs and other regulatory authorities, our clients can decrease insurance costs and ensure they remain compliant. Our financial assistance also enables clients to complete major maintenance or construction projects within a very short period of time, minimising downtime and profit loss. Now we have combined our services, FleetPro can help operators to diversify their brands and enter new markets. For example, many of our current river cruise clients are looking to expand into ocean cruising, while many of our ocean cruise clients are exploring opportunities to offer river itineraries.
This article appeared in the Spring/Summer 2014 edition of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read other articles, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats.