NSB Mercmarine re-launched as Asia Marine Colombo

Asia Marine Colombo final

Making great inroads into the marine industry, Mercmarine in 2012 entered into a joint venture agreement with Reederei NSB, creating a platform to provide crew management services for the NSB owned vessels, the company was registered and known as NSB Mercmarine.

Reederei NSB is one of the largest ship management companies in the world operating in six countries, with its futuristic expansion plans evolving mainly around Asia. Given Sri Lanka’s geographical advantage, the expertise of its seafarers and management teams they decided to include Sri Lanka as the key focus area of their diverse plans. 

In Mercmarine Crew Management headed by Capt. Rohan Codipilly, Reederei NSB found a world class and committed partner to carry on their vision. The joint venture passed significant landmarks within a short time span giving opportunities to many Sri Lankan seafarers who were well experienced. Their robust deck and engine cadetship program coupled with rating training programs marked their commitment to training and development of Sri Lankan seafarers. In keeping with the rapidly changing world dynamics in technology, new IMO standards, risks, management etc. the shipping industry needed to change and adapt to the ever evolving markets. This week as part of their adoption process and expansion program to meet these challenges, the two entities announced a rebranding of their joint venture corporate identity to ‘Asia Marine Colombo’. With this change, the joint venture in Sri Lanka amalgamates into the Asia Marine cluster.

Mercmarine Group of Companies CEO Thomas Kriwat speaking at the revealing of the logo, to a group of deck officers and marine engineers assembled for the third consecutive ‘NSB Officer’s Conference’, said the shipping industry was almost 20 years behind and needed to change to keep abreast with the global demand for change and it was their obligation to ensure that their deck and engine officers were well trained and highly conversant with the emerging trends.

Reederei NSB COO Tim Ponath speaking at the program said, “For a company with German roots we are exploring Asia as this is where we see real potential. The re-branding is part of a long term strategy to make our presence known in providing career and training opportunities to the seafarers locally with a global outlook and background. The launch is a third in the series of country specific launches the others being Asia Marine China and Asia Marine Philippines.”

The company’s new logo was unveiled to a group of seafarers and well wishers by Mercmarine Companies COO Capt. Rohan Codipilly, Reederei NSB General Manager Crewing Captain Frank Uwe Schneider, Mercmarine Group of Companies CEO Thomas Kriwat and Reederei NSB COO Tim Ponath.