Union Maritime and Vega Maritime are combining their offshore activities through a new joint venture. With Union Vega Offshore, the partners aim to expand their presence in West Africa and South America.
Union Maritime and Vega Maritime are pooling their activities in the offshore sector. The British shipping group led by Laurent Cadji and the company owned by Norwegian shipowner Kenneth Fjeld have founded the joint venture Union Vega Offshore (UVO) for this purpose. The aim is to expand the offshore business in West Africa and South America, the companies announced.
Union Maritime is known primarily as a large tanker and bulker owner. With UVO, the shipping group now wants to get more involved in offshore shipping. According to the company, the new company builds on an existing cooperation between the partners and will combine operational offshore experience with regional market knowledge.
The initial focus will be on offshore support vessels. These include accommodation units or flotels (floating hotels), AHTS vessels and light underwater systems. UVO aims to support customers throughout the various phases of offshore projects.
“Vega Hilton” already taken over
The joint venture’s first fleet includes the DP accommodation support vessel “Vega Hilton”. According to the company, the unit has already been taken over and will initially be modernized. It will then be deployed to support the activities of an oil major in West Africa.
The Norwegian Vega Maritime Group specializes in ship ownership, operation and commercial management, particularly in the areas of offshore support, dry bulk and subsea. Founded in 2010, the company manages its activities from Oslo, Dubai and West Africa and focuses on niche projects, investor syndicates and efficient operational structures.
The group includes Vega Bulk Carriers, which handles dry bulk activities and has a branch in Dubai in addition to its headquarters in Oslo. Key personnel include Kenneth Fjeld and Niklas Sindum. The fleet comprises or has comprised offshore vessels, bulk carriers and tankers, which are deployed on a voyage, time charter or spot basis.
In addition, there are related but separate companies such as the Hamburg-based Vega Reederei with a diversified fleet of bulk carriers, tankers and feeders, as well as a smaller Greek Vega Maritime Company in Piraeus. UVO is led by Kenneth Fjeld as CEO and Graham Goode as COO.
