The Evergreen Group, headed by founder Chang Yung-fa, has launched a new UK-flag shipping company, Hatsu Marine Limited (HML). Headquartered in London, the company owns one container vessel, the 6332TEU Hatsu Eagle, completed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in October 2001, and will take delivery of a sister ship, Hatsu Envoy, in March 2002. Three further ships in this series are also expected to join the HML fleet.
Over the next few years, HML will take on ownership of further container vessels. Some will be newbuildings but most will be acquired from other Evergreen-affiliated companies. Officers and crew are currently engaged in an intensive training and certification programme in order to qualify them to serve on UK-flag vessels.
According to Slin Yeh, President of HML, the new company has been established in recognition of the increasing importance of the EU market:
"We believe that increasing unification and consolidation within Europe will have a profound influence on the patterns of world trade. We felt that we should reinforce our position within the EU and the creation of Hatsu Marine will enable us to do this.
"The new company will be managed out of London, the focal point within the EU for financial services and a traditional centre for the maritime industries Having a stronger operational base within the EU will complement our extensive knowledge of Asia and North America and enable us to serve our global customer base that much better."
Mr Yeh continues:
"Hatsu Marine will meet the requirements for inclusion within the UK tonnage tax regime. This includes flying the Red Ensign and training a significant number of cadets on our vessels.
"We are particularly delighted to have this chance to register ships in the UK. The British flag is highly regarded worldwide due to its strict requirements regarding vessel condition and crewing standards."
HML will not restrict itself to shipowning. It will be a fully-fledged container shipping line, explains Mr Yeh:
"HML will offer a global container network, slot sharing with Evergreen Marine Corporation (EMC) and Lloyd Triestino di Navigazione SpA on various services linking Europe, Asia and North America. We will be issuing our own bills of lading and will have dedicated sales and operational staff within our agents' offices.
"Initially, we intend to provide a transpacific service based on a slot-share agreement with EMC and LT. Once final details are agreed, we will be applying to the US Federal Maritime Commission for authorisation to operate in these trades. Within the foreseeable future, we will expand our operations to encompass the trades between Europe and Asia and Europe and North America."
| 2002-01-14 | HATSU MARINE LIMITED |
