The maritime and offshore sector is an international one, with highly capital intensive assets and a dominant role for knowledge.

Only consultants with a track record, knowledge and an international network are able to speak and understand this langage and are able to add value for their clients. To optimize the services for the maritime and offshore sector a specialized sector team has been formed in which the knowledge, network and skills of the participating offices is bundled. These combined skills give the Global M&A Maritime and Offshore Forum the power to handle major strategic, M&A and restructuring opportunities.

What is happening in the maritime sector?

Overcapacity in the shipping sector, the offshore sector and shipbuilding sector put pressure on rates which influence the performance of the companies.

Consolidation is expected:

• smaller operators are in need to increase scale,
• market leaders will defend their market position
• Targets are companies with a weak financial position and with no access to bank funds

Growth

Changing trade flows have a major influence on ports and terminals

• One of the determining factors of the shipping industry is the drive to reduce costs by increasing ship size: vessels have become very large,
• Increasing scale of vessels have had ramifications for the landside -ports and terminals: to service these vessels berths cranes and draughts had to be adjusted,
• However, outsourcing of manufacturing is declining and nearshoring is up and coming,
• This will have an effect on vessel routes, size and quantity,
• Ports and terminals will have to ask themselves what role they would like to have,
• This could mean the development of e.g. hub functions, extension of value added services or creating maritime Forums

President of this sector team is Kees van Biert from JBR. Ambassador is Ben Vree.