Aboitiz and Jebsen renew partnership

MANILA, Philippines - Just like a marriage of 29 years, Aboitiz Group of the Philippines and Jebsens Group of Norway renewed its partnership last Wednesday night in full view of over 200 clients worldwide and vowed to make the partnership even “stronger together” until they become a dominant player in the global ship crewing and manning industry.

The renewal was timed with the launch of the brand and logo, aboitizjebsen and the marching order “stronger together,” in a glittering and well-attended cocktail party with top quality customized entertainment numbers at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel.

The mission of the partnership and its people in the maritime, manpower and other integrated services sector is to help its partners succeed and excel through value-adding quality services. And its vision is to be the preferred and profitable maritime, manpower and integrated services provider, best in class, with an expanded global presence.

Jon Ramon Aboitiz, chairman of aboitizjebsen told The Star that the partnership has been manning the crew requirements of all shipping operators in the world, including cruise ships, and is now the 10th largest player. “We want to do even better than that since there is a large market waiting to be explored,” Aboitiz said.

Aboitiz Jebsen executives led by Managing Director Ole Stene (center)show off their shirts with the new Aboitiz Jebsen logo. In photo are (from left) Finance Sr. Vice President Tet Paguio, Employee Care and General Services Asst.Vice President Lot Lazaro, Stene, ISD Asst. Vice President Beng Cristobal and Shipping Vice President Mark Padre.

The manning and crewing industry of the global shipping sector is around 250,000 plus a year of which Filipino seafarers are considered a niche supplier of quality, dedicated and hardworking sailors and shipping managers, Aboitiz said.

The partnership has 8,000 qualified seafarers in its pool of highly dedicated professional managers ashore, the crew management arm of the company is a proud recipient of the Presidential Award of Execellence and several other distinctions from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Known before as the ABOJEB, the partnership was established in 1982 between the two pioneers in the transport business—the Aboitiz Group and Jebsens Group of Norway, showcasing the best of the East and the West.

The Aboitiz Group traces its beginnings to the late 1800s when Paulino Aboitiz and a fellow Basque established an abaca trading and general merchandise company, and later entered the shipping business eventually expanding into other industries.

In 1920, Aboitiz y Compania was incorporated and amended in 1935 to official be known as Aboitiz and Company Inc.

Currently, Aboitiz is a professional business group with interests in power, banking, food, real estate development, shipbuilding and construction. Jebsens was organized under the banner AS Kristian Jebsens Rederi (KJR) in Bergen in 1929.

Aboitiz Jebsen Managing Director Ole Stene, Chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz and President Endika Aboitiz propose a toast to demonstrate ‘Stronger Together’ during the launch of new Aboitiz Jebsen brand recently at Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Operations began with its first two 2,500 DWT (dead weight ton) newbuildings and grew steadily through the 1930s with majority interest in small bulk carriers and medium-sized tankers, expanding its fleet in 1950 with 15,000 to 22,000 tonners, the handy-size bulk carriers of that time.

When Alte Jebsen became its president in 1967, KJR sold its tankers and since then the business focused on operating bulk carriers through long-term contracts of affreightment. Today, it offers an integrated transport service portfolio including ship owning, shipping, logistics, storage and distribution.

The joint venture company, ABOJEB has weathered 29 years of smooth and rough times, committing itself to excellence  and to becoming a leading international provider of transport solutions including ship management and technical services, crew management, manpower services, training and development, shipping and logistics.

Aside from the Philippines, the company has offices and representatives in Norway, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hongkong and China.

The partnership’s commitment in crew management is to provide the best manpower that would take their clients to greater heights supported by its business goal of deploying 10 percent of the world’s ships within the next decade.