TWO Hong Kong ship management companies - Anglo-Eastern and Univan Shipmanagement - have announced their merger under the leadership of Anglo-Eastern's boss Peter Cremers as executive chairman and Univan chief Bjorn Hojgaard as CEO of the new Anglo-Eastern Univan Group.

"Already in the top three global ship management companies, Anglo-Eastern's merger with Univan Ship Management creates the industry leader," the joint statement said. 

"There has been a great deal of merger activity in the shipping industry over the past few years, especially amongst owners, but, Anglo-Eastern Group and Univan Group have reached an agreement, with the culmination of the largest ever merger of independent, third party ship management companies," said a joint statement.

"There are significant scale advantages in ship management arising from a global foot print and better career opportunities for both seafarers and shore staff which are of benefit to a ship manager's customers, the shipowners," it said.

Anglo-Eastern started in 1974. Its present CEO, Belgian naval architect Mr Cremers, joined in 1985. Marcel Liedts joined soon after and then the company underwent a management buy-out, followed in 2001 by a merger with Denholm Ship Management, providing a presence in Europe.

Univan Ship Management was started by the late Captain CAJ Vanderperre, often referred to as the "father of ship management". Former Maersk captain Bjorn Hojgaard was appointed CEO in 2012 and has overseen significant change. 

In recent years, Univan refocused its efforts on serving shipowner clients and has enjoyed rapid fleet growth. 

Led by Mr Cremers and Capt Hojgaard, Mr Liedts will act a chief operating officer and while Mark Stevenson will serve as chief financial officer. 

The newly merged entity will have 1,700 shore based staff 24,000 seafarers 600 ships under full management 100 ships under crew management only. 

For now, the merged group will continue to operate as separate entities, out of their existing offices in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Group Board will consist of Mr Cremers, John Denholm, Kannika Thasak, Captain Hojgaard, Mr Liedts, Mr Stevenson, Richard Wong and Richard Hext.