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Wilh. Wilhelmssen was established in a small Norwegian town some 134 years ago, at a time few thought of doing business with the Far East and South East Asia.
During that time the company has established a reputation of reliability and quality as one of the world's leading shipping industry operators, renowned in ports worldwide. And the Far East has been "home waters" to Wilh. Wilhelmsen Limited for more than 80 years.
It all began in the North Sea and the Atlantic. But these seas did not limit the company for long. A century ago, regular sailings were initiated between Europe and Australia and as early as 1903 regular trans Pacific cargo service between the US west coast and the Far East was considered, although the idea was not realized until a few years later.
The Norwegian African and Australian Line (NAAL) was established in 1911 as a joint venture between Wilh. Wilhelmsen and another Norwegian ship owner. NAAL's services were soon extended to include India, the Straits, China and Japan in 1913 and 1914. Since then, the company's presence and involvement in the Far East has grown steadily.
In recent decades, most of Wilh. Wilhelmsen ships have been built in Japan. Its Wilship division is heavily involved in carrying cars from Korea and Japan to other parts of the world through the NOSAC pool.
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Wilh. Wilhelmssen tankers carry oil from the Middle East, and the Wilhelmsen lines arm operates a modern fleet of roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) carriers that call regularly at most major Far Eastern ports in their round-the-world service.
Thanks to the company's unique and flexible ro-ro concept, its m/v Toba was the first vessel able to call at the port of Kobe, Japan after the earthquake disaster in 1995.
But Wilh. Wilhelmsen's Far Eastern presence spans more than just ships. Another subsidiary, Barber International, is one of the worlds leading ship management companies. Its operational head office recently moved from Oslo to Kuala Lumpur in order to forge closer ties with the expanding Far Eastern and South-East Asian markets. The management also wanted to get close to the areas in which most of its appr. 5,000 crew members are recruited and trained. Barber International is responsible for managing more than 160 vessels owned by about 35 different ship owners in all parts of the world. In addition to Kuala Lumpur and Oslo, it has management offices in Dubai, Hong Kong, London and New Orleans, as well as manning offices in Bombay, Kuala Lumpur and the Polish port of Stettin.
Barwil Agencies, another subsidiary, ranks as the worlds largest ship agency company. It has more than 100 offices in ports all over the world, many of which are located in the Far East and South-East Asia. Barwil also owns and operates a large fleet of crew boats, utility craft, diving support ships, agency launches and security vessels. This fleet is managed from Indonesia.
Wilh. Wilhelmsen has already been in the Far East for a long period of time and the company intends to stay there.
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