U.S.-based ocean carrier Intermarine has joined forces with Thai project and breakbulk cargo specialist WeShip Projects to launch Intermarine Asia and strengthen Intermarine’s position in Europe. As part of the deal, WeShip partners Torben Reinhard and Lars Steen Rasmussen have joined Intermarine’s commercial team.
“Intermarine and WeShip have already partnered successfully for over a year now in the Asia-Pacific trade, and we are very excited to combine our organizations to jointly grow the Intermarine presence in Asia and Europe,” Intermarine CEO Svend Andersen said.
Since its relaunch in 2020, Intermarine has successfully developed its business within breakbulk and multipurpose shipping, having grown its fleet from six vessels in late 2020 to 25 in 2022. In 2021, Intermarine opened its second office outside the U.S. in Sao Paulo, Brazil, followed by the establishment of a European base in Odense, Denmark in early 2022.
“I have known both Torben and Lars for many years, and I have been amazed with the business they have built at WeShip over the past four years,” Andersen continued. “That we can now launch Intermarine in Asia under the leadership of Torben, makes me tremendously proud and happy. Having Lars as part of our European operations significantly strengthens our setup here, as well.”
Under the combined setup, Intermarine represents all cargo chartering activities, whereas the WeShip brand continues as representation for port agency and logistic services in Thailand and neighboring countries.
“Our journey with WeShip has been incredible, but we could also see that the opportunities with Intermarine would be far greater than what we could built up ourselves,” Reinhard, the new managing director of Intermarine Asia, said. “We have a strong network of clients and contacts throughout Asia and adding a quality product like Intermarine will only propel our presence in the region.”
Lars Steen Rasmussen, who has now become COO of Intermarine Denmark, added that combining “the know-how that sits within the Intermarine organization with the relationships that WeShip has built over the years makes in my eyes a really strong commercial setup and a journey.”
Dr. Martin Harren, CEO of the Harren Group, said that he was very proud to see Intermarine taking the next step in its journey and expanding toward Asia.
“Not only strengthening its own business,” he said, “but also adding to the global portfolio and presence of our entire group.”