August 1 - Thornico - parent company of Danish project carrier Thorco Shipping - has launched its own dry bulk vessel operator, Thorco Bulk.
According to Thornico, Thorco Bulk will be an "asset-light operator" working primarily in the handymax/supramax segment.
The new company will be headed up by managing directors, Marc Slinger, René Mikkelsen and Uffe Hansen - all of whom have extensive experience in the shipping industry, said Thornico.
According Thor Stadil, owner of Thornico, an expansion into the dry bulk segment seems natural and complements the company's existing businesses very well.
"During the last years, the lines between the different shipping segments have been fading and especially bulk is a growing part of the business," he explained.
"We are very strong within project and as the segments overlap, it makes sense to expand the business to get closer to our clients and thus be able to serve them with a wider range of services."
Although Thorco Bulk and Thorco Shipping will operate independently as separate Thornico subsidiaries, they will be run very closely together since there are many synergies to be gained, said Thomas Mikkelsen, ceo and partner of Thorco Shipping.
"The boundaries are inching closer together and more than ever, we find ourselves within each other's segments. And we will, of course, collaborate closely, however, without our customers becoming confused about the fact that we are two separate companies," stated Mikkelsen.
The Thorco Bulk management team.
