Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (“BSM”), part of the Schulte Group, and Optimum Ship Management (“Optimum”), a division of Celestyal Cruises, today announced the establishment of a 50/50 Joint Venture, under the name of Hanseatic Cruise Services (“Hanseatic”), to provide comprehensive, world class passenger vessel management services to third-party clients on a global scale.
BSM, one of the largest ship management companies worldwide, is a leading and integrated provider of ship-management services and other maritime solutions, with a strong heritage spanning more than 130 years in the shipping industry. The company manages a ?eet of 600 vessels; its 20,000 employees at sea and ashore enable the delivery of safe, reliable and ef?cient ship management services through a network of nine ship management, 23 crew service and five wholly-owned maritime training centres across the world.
Optimum is a global passenger ship management company with a passion for quality of service and safety. The company has provided peerless fleet management services from its fully-fledged operation centre in Piraeus to its largest client, Celestyal Cruises and currently manages the entire Celestyal fleet – the Celestyal Crystal, the Celestyal Nefeli and the Celestyal Olympia – as well as two Thomson Cruises ships – the Thomson Majesty and the Thomson Spirit – fully in-house. From inception, Optimum has helped Celestyal Cruises exceed customer expectations while ensuring its vessels meet the highest possible standards of safety, health and operational efficiency.
“Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement is pleased to re-enter the passenger vessel management arena in partnership with Optimum Ship Management,” said BSM CEO Captain Norbert Aschmann. “We are impressed with Optimum’s operations and with the vision of its parent company, Celestyal Cruises, particularly with regard to the niche they’ve created for themselves in European cruising. We are eager to set course on a successful venture.”
“We are honoured to partner with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, one of the world’s preeminent ship management companies,” said Captain George Koumpenas of Optimum Ship Management. “The company’s pedigree as a global innovator in ship management ensures our new joint venture, “Hanseatic Cruise Services”, will enter the market place as a provider of world class passenger ship management services. BSM has long set the standard for maritime solutions, and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”
For More Information:
Press Office Celestyal Cruises: Froso Zaroulea – +30210 4583451
About Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises is the only home porting cruise operator in Greece and the preeminent cruise line for the Greek Islands and Turkey. Two of the company’s ships, the “Thomson Spirit” and “Thomson Majesty,” are under charter to Thomson Cruises of TUI AG. Since 2011 Celestyal Cruises has been a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a worldwide cruise industry alliance that promotes a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. At the 2015 Greek Tourism Awards, Celestyal Cruises was awarded a Gold Award for Themed Events, a Silver Award for Contribution to the National Economy, a Silver Award for Contribution to Local Economies and a Bronze Award for Promotion of Local Cuisine. Also in 2015 the company won the highest distinction for the Best Communication Strategy at the nautical Efkranti Awards, as well as Five Silver Awards at the HR Community Conference & Awards for best HR practices. Celestyal Cruises’ new brand, Cuba Cruises, provides passengers with an authentic Cuban cruise experience, the best of Cuba on impeccable eight-day voyages. The Celestyal logo evokes the sea, the sun and the wind. It reflects the company’s commitment to its Hellenic roots, and to supporting the economy and preserving the environment of each destination it visits. For more information, please visit CelestyalCruises.com.
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