Historic brick-built warehouses to the left and a stunning view of cranes, ships and terminals to the right – DNV’s new premises are located right in the centre of maritime Hamburg.
The tremendous growth of DNV’s shipping business in Germany over the past few years required more space than the old office could offer. After moving into the six-storey building, DNV is now well set for further expansion.
Jörg Langkabel, Country Manager DNV Maritime Germany, explains: “We want to make Germany our second domestic market. Therefore, our key concept is to join forces in our decision-making authority and have competencies right at the heart of things. Now a staff of 80 ensures that the best service and fastest response is offered to regional customers.”
DNV celebrated the move with almost 200 representatives of shipyards, ship owners, suppliers, banks, authorities and the press as well as Senator Gunnar Uldall. Besides the stunning view from the roof terrace, business partners were pleased with the new service concept. As Thomas Rehder, Chairman of the Board of the Hamburg Shipbrokers’ Association, put it: “The increasing international competition in shipping demands a constant focus on operational improvements and faster response time. DNV’s extended services help us strengthen our competitive position.”
Facing the port with full-length windows, the fifth floor of the building is occupied by the newly established DNV Training Academy.
DNV began providing seminars and courses in Germany as far back as in 1995. The aim is and always has been to make available the experience DNV has built up in 140 years of classification and other activities, accumulated by its worldwide network of more than 8,000 surveyors and recognised experts. Due to the growing demand for courses, DNV felt encouraged to establish a DNV Academy in Hamburg, using the opportunity created by the move to new premises. The current training programme features seminars inspired by a deeply pragmatic approach and covering the following areas: ship types, maritime technology, maritime rules and ship classification, management systems and shipping business. More than 100 courses and seminars a year are led by both DNV specialists and national and international experts.
DNV’s Hamburg office is the DNV Maritime regional office for Northern Europe and Africa, exclusive Scandinavia and the Baltic States. DNV moved its maritime headquarters for Europe from London to Hamburg in 2005 in an effort to send a positive signal to German shipowners. At year-end 2007, DNV had a 15 per cent share of the German market, making it the second-largest class society in Germany.
Date: 2008-09-24