Wallem takes ship management opportunities as outsourcing trend continues

Increasing specialization in shipping is tempting new and established owners to use managers so they can focus on core interests, says Wallem Managing Director of Ship Management Ioannis Stefanou.

Opportunities for third-party managers are expanding as the rising intricacies of operating vessels encourages exporters new to ship owning to delegate and established owners increasingly seek ways to focus on the rewards available from core business.

For Hong Kong-based Wallem this means expansion among emerging Chinese operators and younger Greek owners, said Managing Director of Ship Management Ioannis Stefanou, after the group increased its presence across all shipping sectors in 2025.

Existing and new clients entrusted more vessels to Wallem, said Stefanou, boosting its fleet of pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), tankers, LPG carriers, bulkers and container ships.
“Our client base increased, but also we had a lot of organic growth from clients that were already with Wallem which is always a good sign about our service delivery,” he said.

“There are still opportunities out there for third party managers. I believe the opportunities are actually increasing because ship management is becoming so specialised and something an owner might want to outsource to be able to focus on what they do best, which is the commercial side of shipping - operating, buying and selling assets.”

Wallem’s closeness to Chinese markets has helped it gain business from car makers, like BYD, which seek greater control over the export process. Wallem has become the largest third-party manager of car carriers as a result with a growing number of dual fuel vessels entering its fleet.

Stefanou adds that the ship management group’s access to qualified seafarers has proved to be a major attraction for owners.

“Especially for newcomers to the industry, it's much easier to outsource crewing than to try to do it all themselves,” he said. Stefanou remains confident about Wallem’s ability to find and attract the best seafarers, with the company’s safety record meaning up to three generations of families have sailed with it. However, he acknowledged the industry’s need to compete in future for the best talents as technology becomes more and more important in shipping.

The same factors – crewing and increasing technical sophistication – are increasingly in decisive when established ship owners consider the contribution third party management can make to their business, added Stefanou.

“Traditionally Greeks have managed their vessels inhouse, for example, but we see this changing. I see the new generation of owners outsourcing more and it's working very well. We have five clients based in Greece and as more vessels are outsourced, I see our stake growing.”

Japanese owners are also more interested in using ship managers, and Stefanou said Wallem’s ability “to combine the best of Asia with the best of the Western world” put the company in a strong position in the market.