Wallem to deliver swifter agency services

(Posted on 13/08/19)

Wallem Group is introducing collaborative inboxes to its agency business line, in a move designed to enhance responsiveness in communications by overcoming the limitations of conventional end-to-end email. The rethink on how communication takes place between Wallem’s agents and its counterparties is part of a broader digital transformation championed by CEO Frank Coles aimed at streamlining interactions with customers and improving transparency through the intelligent use of technology.

Wallem is modernising the communication infrastructure by deploying a collaborative platform, called SEDNA, which provides team inboxes allowing staff to work together on incoming messages and increase their responsiveness to customers.

Instead of forwarding or copying team members on critical messages and the subsequent chain of responses and internal discussion, SEDNA lets users work from a single original copy of the message. Every attachment, tag, and comment is held in one place, delivering transparency, accountability, and efficiency. This arrangement better aligns with the complex transactions common in ship agency where large teams are required to work on the same project over a prolonged period.

SEDNA will also be integrated with the a3 Ship Agency system. This link will enable information and incoming messages to be automatically categorised, making it easy to find information related to any transaction. It will also allow teams to see the entire timeline of a job at a glance.

“Wallem’s agency business needs unified, streamlined communication throughout the lifecycle of any transaction, from discovery and pre-fixture to operations and post-voyage activities,” said Wallem CEO Frank Coles. “Being able to retrieve information quickly and delivering consistent, responsive communication to everyone in a transaction is key to enhancing the quality of service we offer our customers.”

Bill Dobie, SEDNA CEO said: “We believe an organization’s differentiation in the shipping industry comes down to how agile it is as a business. Our focus at SEDNA is to provide a software platform that helps teams save time and work better together by delivering certainty with their data so that people aren't spending time verifying or looking for what they thought the truth was; they can instead respond and act on it.”

Whether it is brokers sending emails to charterers, charterers forwarding voyage information or recaps to operations teams, or operators communicating with masters, owners and port agents, email has become the default method of communication and managing transactions in shipping. Operations teams often receive and process thousands of messages per day – and the volume of traffic continues to grow.

The Wallem Group is a leading provider of technology driven maritime solutions, offering services supporting the complete lifecycle of a vessel from newbuilding supervision to end-of-life recycling guidance. Wallem’s extensive portfolio includes asset management, crewing, training, ship management, safety and compliance management and agency services.

As one of the largest and most experienced solutions providers globally, Wallem offers world-class support to shipowners by bringing its customer-centric and transparent approach to all aspects of fleet operation. Wallem combines technology and forward-thinking to deliver on safety, technical, and commercial performance without compromise. Wallem believes in collaboration to foster innovation in meeting future needs.

Wallem operates globally with a shore-based team of 1000 and more than 7,000 highly qualified seafarers, serving nearly all vessel segments.

SEDNA is a transaction management system, purpose-designed for the shipping sector to help teams collaborate with others, organize information, and manage a job from start to finish. SEDNA is a proven solution that has already powered over 100 million email conversations and is used by some of the leading names in shipping, including Ardmore, Glencore, NORDEN and Seaspan. SEDNA significantly streamlines the transaction management process with a team-based platform that saves time, resources, and money.

Latest News

Positive results for Pacific Basin despite weaker freight market

Pacific Basin Shipping Limited, one of the world’s leading dry bulk shipping companies, has announced... Read more

Swedish Club: Geopolitical volatility is new normal for marine insurance

The shipping industry must accept that geopolitical instability is now a permanent part of the operating... Read more

Diverse vessel and market portfolio provides resilience for Algoma

Algoma Central Corporation has reported its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025... Read more

Columbia: Compliance must be more than box-ticking exercise

The International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has sent a clear message... Read more

DNV and RSI complete study on decarbonising short sea dry bulk fleet

Amid increasing pressure on shipping to achieve the IMO 2050 decarbonization targets, the Responsible... Read more

London P&I Club warns industry over incorrect FIBC loading

The London P&I Club has renewed calls on ship owners, operators and charterers to address potential... Read more

Columbia Group calls for overhaul of maritime training

Columbia Group is calling for urgent reforms in maritime education to address a growing shortage of... Read more

MIS launches as new global media platform

Maritime Information Services (MIS) has officially launched as a global media platform delivering daily... Read more

Russian and Ukrainian seafarers continue struggle with psychiatric fallout of war

Russian and Ukrainian seafarers continue to experience significant psychological strain following the... Read more

Noatum expands global footprint with inauguration of Shanghai office

Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, announced the official... Read more