Klattenberg Marine Agency Helps Link Shipowners With Spare Parts, Yards
RR Klattenberg Marine Agency, in business for five years in West Orange, N.J., represents shipyards and spare parts supply and service companies to shipowners.
To offer his shipowner clients the widest possible variety of service and location, Rick Klattenberg represents shipyards in four strategic parts of the world, including: Caribbean, Curacao Drydock Company, Willemstad, Curacao; Mediterranean, Eleusis Shipyard SA, Eleusis, Greece; North Europe, YVC Bolnes BV, Rotterdam, Netherlands; and the Far East, Pan United Shipyard Pte Ltd., Singapore.
Similarly, Mr. Klattenberg has on tap an impressive list of spare parts and supply service companies, such as: Stork Services (Hengelo, Netherlands): Supplies diesel engine spares, with emphasis on Sulzer and B&W. Reconditioning services for pistons, crowns, and valves. Stock warehoused in Rotterdam and Singapore.
Holland Heat Exchangers (Rotterdam, Netherlands): Supplies replacement air coolers and heat exchangers.
—TurboNed (Zwijndrecht, Netherlands): Supply, repair and service of turbochargers worldwide. Mercurex (Rotterdam, Netherlands): Supply of diesel engine exhaust gas silencers. Van Der Vleit Engineering (U.K.): Boiler pressure parts and flying repair squads for all types of afloat repairs.
While Mr. Klattenberg has worked hard to establish this network of yard, spare parts and service facilities, he said the most difficult part of the business is establishing a relationship and building trust with both the suppliers and the shipowners. "The essence of this business is to keep in touch with the owners and to keep the best interest of the owner and the yard always in mind," said Mr. Klattenberg. As he is in the unique position as confidant to the yards and owners, Mr.
Klattenberg can closely watch the development of world shipping trends. He said that currently his yards are "cautiously optimistic" about the future, and several are in the middle of or planning expansion of repair facilities while concentrating on attracting newbuilding.
A trend he's watching develop from the owner operator side is the increased focus on maintenance and upkeep of current tonnage. "Owners understand they cannot finance newbuildings with higher freight rates. Existing ships must be better maintained and go through life extension programs, this is a cause for optimism," Mr. Klattenberg said. Beyond the working relationship, Klattenberg Marine Agency must have a feel for which ships are going to be in what areas of the world, to best service its clients.
And while other similar agencies might be looking to expand, Mr. Klattenberg is focused on providing the best possible service to his current list of yards and owners. "I am focused on having yards and spare parts in strategic locations...I don't want to be all things to a people," Mr. Klattenberg said. ' want people to know that Ric Klattenberg Marine Agency ha shipyard services and repair team for repairs afloat in the four corner of the world." For additional information on th services of Klattenberg Marin Agency, Circle 112 on Reader Service Card Universal Machinery Requests MarAd Permission To Sell Deck Barge Universal Machinery Co., Inc., o Harahan, La., has asked permissior from the Maritime Administratior to sell the 1,557-gt deck barge TWC "R" Rig No. 16. The proposed purchaser is Caribbean Barge Transport, Carabobo, Venezuela.
If approved the barge would be registered in Venezuela and used in the transportation of deck cargo along the coast of Venezuela between Maracaibo and Puerto Cabello
