Managing Director Xanthos Kyriacou talks about the activities two years after arriving in Italy in cooperation with Premuda.
A little more than two years after the start of operations, CSM Italy, the joint venture between Columbia Shipmanagement and Premuda, has been back in the news in recent days for being ranked among the finalist ship management companies for the Coast Guard’s ‘Flag State Performances Award 2022’.
“With just two years in operation we are pleased to see CSM Italy being one of the nominees during last week’s Italian Flag State Performance Awards 2022. As mentioned in the beginning of our venture, our ultimate goal is to help regenerate the Italian shipping market” managing director Xanthos Kyriacou told SHIPPING ITALY. “Like every other startup we faced quite a number of challenges in our new venture. With great effort from all teams involved in the operations, as well as with the support of our shareholders we managed to meet all the milestones and targets set. Our Italian office is now fully harmonized with the rest of CSM Group companies in every respect. We are ready to grow and we remain fully committed to offer top class services to Italy and the region”.
Kyriacou underlines that CSM Italy offer solutions to shipowning companies to achieve operational efficiencies that translate into economic gains. Whether it is rolling out the suite of CSM Group products and services that can drive in operational value or create additional efficiencies through the work of CSM’s Vessel Performance Optimisation Control Room, we offer our partners a scaled and tailored offering, a “second party” shipmanagement operation, an integrated maritime services platform providing management, logistics, procurement, technology, IT, crewing, catering and people” added the number one of CSM Italy.
The company established in late 2020 a new finance arm “that will spearhead the move into the Italian market and offer a new model for Italian shipowners seeking to re-enter the sector” reveals Kyriacou, pointing out that “CSM Finance offers a range of financial products including debt finance, equity contributions and use of family offices. Even where owners are currently able to secure employment of assets, they may lack the means, desire or confidence to invest in the assets themselves. CSM’s financing venture makes it affordable and attractive for these families to come back”.
