Beluga Shipping, based in Bremen, is a world market leader in the standard heavy lifting segment with crane capacities exceeding 250 tons. Niels Stolberg, President-CEO and founder (1995) of Beluga Shipping: ‘We have a fleet of 57 modern ships sailing the oceans that lift, load and transport the most complex of cargoes. We also continuously strive to implement innovations. A prominent example is MV Beluga Sky Sails, the world’s first new-built ship co-powered by wind energy. Our company is also prospering. That success also depends on the performance of our partners, like Radio Holland. A partner with an excellent and cost-effective global service.’

‘In order to ensure the competence of our crews we are continuously improving quality and qualifications while optimising their skills and competencies’, says Stolberg, the German Entrepreneur of 2006. ‘We have our own Beluga Sea Academy for practical training on board and also in-house training programmes. In addition, Beluga Shipping lead-manages the new Maritime Research Centre and has developed an international study course in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen, which is unique in Europe.’

Worldwide network
Stolberg: ‘Transportation issues are becoming more and more complex. Professional project and heavy lifting shipping therefore requires creative transportation solutions, precise stowage calculations, an experienced team of experts and last but not least, powerful, safely operating multipurpose heavy lifting project carriers. That’s not a problem for our modern fleet. Moreover, Radio Holland understands the electronic requirements to operate and manage our vessels in the most efficient and safe way. Apart from offering a tailor-made service and product, it is Radio Holland’s worldwide network that has convinced us. The ‘International Service Coordination Centre’ (ISCC) of Radio Holland in Rotterdam completes the company’s service.

On-schedule performance
Looking ahead, Stolberg anticipates a further extension of the Full Maintenance Agreement (FMA), due also to the expansion of Beluga’s fleet. ‘This FMA with Radio Holland guarantees Beluga transparency of costs and ensures the availability and operating reliability of all nautical equipment on board. Radio Holland is the ideal partner for Beluga with respect to quality of service and on-schedule performance to our customers.’