The Bremen-based shipping company Harren Group and the Buxtehude-based ship management company NSB Group are pooling their many years of crewing expertise. To this end, they have founded the joint manning company Albireo in Manila.
The aim of the joint venture is to further professionalize the support of seafarers and at the same time offer reliable crewing services for shipowners of all ship types.
The team in Manila currently looks after around 800 seafarers who are deployed on around 90 ships worldwide. The range of services extends from recruitment and training coordination to documentation and long-term career planning. Shipowners benefit from standardized processes, efficient crew scheduling and stable crews, while seafarers receive individual support and predictable development prospects.
The office is headed by General Manager and President Capt. Vicente Dayo and Operations Manager and Chairman Capt. Thaddeus Bonghanoy, both of whom have decades of experience in the Philippine shipping and crewing market.
“Seafarers are our colleagues on board and a key success factor for our customers,” emphasizes Nils Aden, Managing Director of the Harren Group. “With Albireo, we are giving our crewing activities in the Philippines a clear framework and ensuring reliable staffing and consistent service quality for shipowners.”
Joachim Zeppenfeld, Managing Director of Harren Ship Management, also emphasizes the strategic importance of the joint venture: “Especially for specialized fleets, it is crucial to have permanent access to a pool of well-trained and experienced Filipino seafarers. With Albireo, we are creating the conditions to ensure the highest quality and training standards in crewing in the long term.”
Tim Ponath, CEO of the NSB Group, explained that Albireo would enable crewing processes to be aligned to a uniform operational standard and at the same time strengthen team spirit. Bringing the teams together in Manila will ensure that the selection, preparation and ongoing support of seafarers is consistent throughout, while proximity to the crews and their families remains a key requirement.
The name Albireo is borrowed from a double star in the constellation of Swan and symbolizes orientation, partnership and reliability, values that the new joint venture will embody for both seafarers and shipping companies.
