TelestackCimbriaPort of South LouisianaGeneva DryBühler GmbHVan Aalst
  • Vigan
  • TBA Group
  • Geneva Dry
  • Bühler GmbH
  • Sailors Society
  • Port of South Louisiana

Thome celebrates 55th Anniversary

(Posted on 19/07/18)

July 2018 is a significant milestone in the history of the Thome Group because it was 55 years ago this month that the company was first incorporated in Singapore.

The expansion of the business from its humble beginnings as an agent, broker and charterer to mainly Norwegian ship owners, to an internationally respected third-party ship management company, has mirrored Singapore’s own growth as a renowned global maritime centre. The family run business has been successfully managed since Mr. Olav Eek Thorstensen, the Group’s Executive Chairman, took over sole ownership in 1981.

“I am deeply proud and humbled to have been part of the Thome Group and it is with sincere thanks to the hard work and dedication of all our employees that we have successfully grown into one of the largest and most respected ship management and shipping services companies in the world,” said Mr. Thorstensen.

“Ship Management is a more demanding business than ever before with more and more regulations covering safety and the environment, coupled with a greater desire by our principals for improved cost efficiency. However, our teams have risen to, and exceeded, these challenges so we remain extremely competitive.”

The industry has also seen great leaps in technology over the years and Thome has always been at the forefront of these changes, recently opening an operations hub to enhance the quality of its ship management services and reaction times to emergency responses.

As Mr. Claes Eek Thorstensen, President and CCO, explained: “The Thome Group is proud to be recognised as a leader in innovation and the Operations Hub means that we now have an even closer control of our managed fleet. In times of emergency we can now react much more quickly and get faster and more accurate information about the situation in real time, allowing our crisis teams to make informed decisions on how to resolve any issues.”

Keeping Thome focused as a family business offering hands-on ship management services has been its strength. The Group’s determination to provide quality services to meet owners’ requirements has been essential in forging and preserving the good reputation it enjoys.

This comment was mirrored by Olav Nortun, Chief Executive Officer, who said: “Longevity in business is an indicator that we must be doing things right, and placing the needs of the customer at the heart of everything we do has been our mantra for the past 55 years. Yes, we believe passionately and wholeheartedly in the constant need to drive quality into all the services we provide, but we cannot do this without the dedication and hard work of the teams here at Thome. I would personally like to thank all our staff from the senior management and shore-based staff to our hard working sea-going teams for all the work they do and we all look forward to the next 55 years.”

Higher educated professionals and additional staff are required to manage today’s vessels, meaning higher operating costs for ship managers so to survive in the future the Group needs to continue improving its IT systems and outsourcing support services to locations with lower cost levels. But ship management is constantly evolving and Thome, as a Group, must remain agile enough to adjust and adapt to compete at the highest level.

“Some values will always remain at the core of the Group’s philosophy – such as safe and cost-effective operations and regulatory compliance but there are other factors that will demand continual focus such as the digital transformation, data analytics and staff training. Here’s to the next 55 years in business,” Mr. Claes Eek Thorstensen concluded.

Latest News

ESL to sell Supramaxes

(Posted on 25/03/24)

ESL Shipping, a leading carrier of dry bulk cargoes in the Baltic region, has signed a memorandum of... Read more


Sustainable fuels can reach cost parity with fossil fuels by 2035

(Posted on 25/03/24)

New Wärtsilä analysis shows EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime will close price gap, creating policy... Read more


Swedish Club delivers firm foundation for future growth

(Posted on 25/03/24)

The Swedish Club reported positive results for 2023, combined with an emphasis on supporting its members... Read more


DNV establishes Tanker and Bulker Expert Team in China

(Posted on 18/03/24)

DNV has established a Tanker and Bulker Expert Team based in Shanghai. With strong global demand and... Read more


ClassNK notation for improvements in living and working environment

(Posted on 18/03/24)

ClassNK has granted its “ELW” (Excellent Living and Working Environment) notation to &ldquo... Read more


Boers: crews' health should not be sacrificed while at out sea

(Posted on 15/03/24)

Leading crew change specialist Boers Crew Services says the industry should be collaborating more to... Read more


Wärtsilä simulator technology for Sharjah Maritime Academy

(Posted on 15/03/24)

Technology group Wärtsilä has supplied its latest simulator technology to the prestigious... Read more


ASL rebrands as Adhira Shipping and Logistics and expands range of logistics services

(Posted on 10/03/24)

Adhira Shipping and Logistics (ASL) has launched an integrated suite of logistics and transportation... Read more


Attack on MV True Confidence – INTERCARGO statement

(Posted on 10/03/24)

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) had joined shipping industry associations... Read more


Diverse Algoma fleet contributes to revenue growth

(Posted on 29/02/24)

Algoma Central Corporation has reported its results for the year ended December 31, 2023. Algoma reported... Read more


Port of StocktonViganTBA GroupSailors SocietyTMS Awards 2023
  • Port of Stockton
  • Cimbria
  • TMS Awards 2023

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping