Milestone comes as company positions itself to lead shipping through an unprecedented era of transformation

V.Group, the global ship manager and marine services provider, celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. The milestone comes as the company embarks on a new growth chapter bolstered by its recent change in ownership.

With a robust capital structure, its wealth of experience and ability to operate on a global scale, V. is positioned to support the global shipping industry as it navigates evolving complexities, from regulatory compliance and geopolitical risk, through to its decarbonisation and digitalisation drives.

Since being founded in 1984, V.’s network has expanded from managing 35 vessels to servicing over 3,500 ships across the tanker, gas carrier, bulk, container cruise and offshore segments.

V.’s continued growth is driven by its steadfast commitment to delivering safe operations and remaining the industry’s Committed Partner of Progress for Everything at Sea.

Recent years have also seen V. expand its V.Services portfolio of marine services into a core part of its business, enabling the organisation to provide a holistic, end-to-end solution for its clients, across ship management, crew wellbeing (catering, travel, digital payment cards), supply chain, technical services, insurance and more.

At the heart of V.’s operations is its network over 44,000 seafarers across all segments, each of them supported by an onshore team of c. 3,000 colleagues in over 30 countries and 50 offices around the world. V.’s global network of onshore teams boasts a wealth of specialised industry knowledge built over decades of experience. Many of these onshore teams are staffed by former crew members, reflecting V.’s strong focus on ship-to-shore career progression opportunities.

V. actively prioritises crew recruitment, wellbeing, retention and training, providing a wide range of services, from physical and mental health and training, to a focus on career progression opportunities across V.’s vast fleet, all contributing to a >90% retention rate for senior officers.

Meanwhile, V. has also invested significantly in digitalisation across its operations and offers a unique end-to-end digital platform. V.’s ShipSure is a digital platform that combines V.’s wealth of historical data with advanced machine learning and human capital to help the industry better optimise energy use, evaluate a vessel’s performance, identify trends and predict future performance to effectively manage its vessels, voyages and crew.

Commenting on the milestone, René Kofod-Olsen, CEO, V.Group, said:

“The last 40 years have been a rehearsal for the success to come over the next 40 years and beyond. As the industry continues to transform at an exceptional pace, our mantra remains as important as ever: ‘Never Not Act’. We’re at the ready to support our clients in navigating the industry’s complexities, backed by our proven track record, global scale, and digital-first way of working. It’s a strategy we’re laser focused on, as we continue to enable safe, profitable and sustainable operations.”