January 17 - Thorco Projects has teamed up with MC-Schiffahrt to create a new shipping pool, which starts with a fleet of 14 ships - six 10,500 dwt multipurpose vessels from the latter and eight comparable vessels from the former.
Thomas Mikkelsen, chief executive of Thorco Projects, said: "We have a long and reliable relationship with MC-Schiffahrt over the years so it was natural for us to seize this opportunity to both enhance our collaboration and expand our fleet with the new MCT pool."
The preliminary steps to the formation of the pool were taken in November last year.
Mad Dabelstein, chief executive of MC-Schiffahrt, said: "In the current market it's crucial to find reliable and well-positioned partners.
"Our vessels fit very well with Thorco Projects' needs and commercially it's a great advantage for us to be a part of Thorco Projects platform. So in many ways it's a very good match."
Thorco Projects is Thornico's joint venture with Lars Rolner's United Heavy Lift (UHL), which was created in September 2016, as HLPFI reported here.
Both companies expect their newly established pool to attract more parties, with Dabelstein saying that this step is only the beginning.
"Hopefully the cooperation will lead to further common projects involving but not limited to an increasing amount of vessels being added to this pool."
Mikkelsen commented that much interest has already been shown in their new pool.
In December, Thorco Shipping Holland reached an agreement with Navigia and Feederlines to join forces in a new technical ship management venture, which will represent four brands: Thorco Projects, Navigia, Feederlines and Peak, as HLPFI reported here.
