Silverstream wins more Grimaldi contracts, appoints Chief Regional Officer – Asia

Silverstream, the London-headquartered clean maritime technology company, has won a contract to supply its air lubrication systems for nine Grimaldi Ro-pax newbuidings to be built at China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard. With this contract, its total orderbook with the Naples owner, whose subsidiaries include Grimaldi Lines, Minoan Lines, Finnlines and Atlantic Container Lines (ACL), rises to 35 ships.

In addition, Silverstream has appointed Julian Zhu as Chief Regional Officer – Asia. In this new role, Mr Zhu will lead the company’s Shanghai operation and focus on growing business in China and within Asia. 

Mr Zhu, who is relocating from the UK to China, has a wealth of international business experience, having spent most of the past 20 years working in the US and the UK with CRRC group companies, China’s state-owned enterprise in the railway industry.Most recently, he was CEO of Newcastle-based subsea robotics leader, Soil Machine Dynamics, where he led the organisation through a period of exceptional growth.

Noah Silberschmidt, Silverstream founder and CEO, said: “China is the world’s leading shipbuilding nation, and we have been growing our relationships in the country ever since Silverstream’s establishment in 2010. Some 15 years on with 150 ships installed with the Silverstream® System and an orderbook of another 100 vessels, we are pleased to have strong leadership on the ground in China to support our customers. Julian’s experience and background and knowledge of international and China business will help further accelerate Silverstream’s growth.”