Asia Maritime Pacific and Sono Shipping are pleased to announce that, as of 7th December 2016, they have merged their operations. The two entities will join forces under the name Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP).
Asia Maritime Pacific, based in Hong Kong, is a leading owner and operator of minibulker/multipurpose and Handysize vessels, with a fleet of 35 vessels ranging from 6,000dwt to 40,000 dwt. Vessels are operated internationally, with special focus on China-West Africa, ChinaAustralia, intra-Asia and Atlantic trades. The Company has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, London, West Africa, Melbourne (through Rhumb Maritime), and now, Austin, Texas. AMP has a solid base of international customers and strong brand focus on excellence of service and reliability for its customers, through the use of modern and well maintained tonnage.
Sono Shipping, founded in 2000 by Kim Thomsen, a veteran of the dry bulk chartering industry with over 35 years of chartering experience at Lauritzen Bulkers and Armada, boasts a team of chartering and post-fixture operations specialists, based in Austin, Texas, with a focus on the US Gulf, South American and general Atlantic trades. The amalgamation of Sono Shipping LLC has offered an ideal solution to both parties in terms of their expansion strategies.
The merger will mean that AMP continues to expand its platform in the Atlantic market, with offices on both sides of the Atlantic, in London and Austin. Kim Thomsen commented: “I am very excited to be joining such a dynamic, international company. Over the past 16 years, Sono has built a successful and sustainable operating business in the Atlantic market for our exclusive clients Meridian Bulk Carriers Ltd and Whitehawk Enterprise Ltd. When AMP approached us about the possibility of joining forces, it seemed an ideal match: their international platform and modern fleet, and our cargo book in this part of the world. I look forward to being part of the next chapter of AMP.”
The management and key shareholders of Asia Maritime Pacific are seasoned shipping veterans with experience in both Handysize and minibulker/multipurpose operations. CEO Mark Young has, together with the other shareholders, developed AMP from 2012 (when the original Asia Maritime Pacific, a minibulker/multipurpose operator, merged with OSL, a China-West African operator) to the present day, where the Company has a sizeable owned fleet, a larger and more sophisticatedchartering platform, and operates a 19-vessel Handysize Pool that includes third party-owned tonnage.
According to Mark Young, “the Company has spent the past few difficult years focusing first, on continuing to seek out new opportunities and niche trades in its operations, and second, on growing its fleet, which has doubled in size over the past 4 years. Since AMP opened its London chartering office in 2013, the success of that operation has made it clear to us that we need to continue to expand in the Atlantic. The Sono merger offers us that opportunity, and I am delighted to welcome Kim and the Austin team onboard with AMP.”
Although the merger is effective as of 7 December 2016 and the Austin office will begin operations as Asia Maritime Pacific (Texas) Inc, Sono Shipping and Whitehawk Enterprises will continue to collect pre-merger trade receivables owed by past customers.
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Source: Asia Maritime Pacific
