Oslo, Norway, headquartered RO/RO professional Wallenius Wilhelmsen claims that, with the coronavirus scenario developing quickly around the world, it is taking preventive actions to change its procedures and also guard its liquidity moving forward.
“In the coming months, service demand is unlikely to follow normal patterns and we will adjust schedules and capacity accordingly,” claims the firm. “We see that both frequency and lead-time will be impacted, but together with customers we will work hard to keep operations going the best way possible. In these uncertain times, trust and transparency will be crucial to minimizing disruptions.”
Wallenius Wilhelmsen claims that the present scenario suggests an overcapacity of 10-15 vessels in its fleet of greater than 50 vessels. This, it claims, will certainly be fixed with a mix of redelivery of legal vessels to tonnage service providers, very early recycling and also cold-lay-ups.
“For crew on our vessels we have put in place rigorous biosecurity processes and minimize contact with persons from affected countries,” claims the firm. “Travel restrictions have also made it necessary to stop crew changes and shore leave. This puts both crew on board and on shore in a difficult position, and we highly appreciate their great work in this trying time.”
The firm claims that its terminals have stringent gain access to and also wellness controls in position and also are presently done in procedure, yet that it sees disruptions and also blockages at some ports it calls, including that “as the COVID-19 situation develops and border restrictions take their toll we expect disruptions to increase.”
