Largest ship management merger ever

(Posted on 23/05/23)

Competition authorities have now approved the merger of OSM Maritime Group and Thome Group. The merged company, OSM Thome, will be a power house in the international ship management market, represented in 22 countries and headquartered in Arendal, Norway.

“This is a big day for OSM Thome. Our merger is now formally and finally approved. The merged company combines proud traditions with high ambitions. Our business is based on Norwegian maritime skills and with skilful employees in leading shipping locations across the world, we will strengthen our position as an innovative and world-leading supplier of ship management services. We have built a company for the future, with safe, efficient and sustainable management of ships as our DNA. That will give added value for our customers and for our colleagues,” says CEO of OSM Thome, Finn Amund Nordbye.

Several of the world’s leading shipping companies are customers of OSM Thome, and the fleet includes various segments such as tank, bulk, container, car ships and offshore vessels. The company handles ship management for nearly 450 ships and is responsible for crewing on about 550 additional ships.

“We are respectful about and appreciate the trust shown to us by our customers, which we will do our utmost to maintain through our around the clock operations on the seven seas. We know our customers’ needs and our skilled and dedicated colleagues, both on land and on sea, are crucial for us to be able to provide the best solutions. We have the skills and the ability to continue growing. We will do so by offering competitive solutions and taking good care of our existing as well as new customers. We will remain leading within safe and efficient management as well as within important areas such as digitalisation, cyber security and green shipping,” Norbye states.

The integration process has been thoroughly planned and now, as the merger finally is approved, the work of joining the two organisations can begin. Through this process, the daily run of the ships and attention to our customers remain the top priority.

The new company will build on the best from OSM Maritime and from Thome continuing strong, skilled professional environments. The starting point of this merger has been unique as the two companies already had so much in common such as Norwegian ownership, business philosophy, values and view of the future.

The integration process will be done in a fast and proper manner and in good dialogue with employees at the various offices. “It’s all about people” has been OSM’s mark for many years, and remains a core credo for the merged company.

It has recently been decided who will join CEO Finn Amund Norbye in the management group. A team of skilled, maritime experience will contribute to develop the business in a way that serves the customers, 2,000 employees on shore and 29,000 seafarers.