Herbert Smith Freehills advises V.Group on Singapore shipping management partnership 史密夫斐尔律师事务所为V.Group就新加坡航运管理业务达成战略合作提供法律服务

Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised V.Group on its strategic partnership with Oslo-listed shipowner Belships ASA on the management of Belships' fleet and ship management business.

全球领先的律师事务所史密夫斐尔为V.Group提供法律服务，助力其与挪威奥斯陆上市船东Belship ASA就船队和船舶管理业务达成战略合作。

Headquartered in London, V.Group is the world's leading provider of ship management and marine solutions serving about 3,500 vessels across its portfolio, with about 3,000 colleagues based across 30 countries globally, supporting over 44,000 personnel in marine and offshore roles. Belships ASA is shipowner and operator of dry bulk carriers founded in 1918 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 1937.

As part of the partnership formalised on 30 June 2023, Belships Management (Singapore), a technical and crewing management company established in 1983 currently managing dry bulk vessels for Belships ASA and other international clients, will be integrated into V.Group forming an industry-leading centre of expertise for dry bulk operations. Belships Management (Singapore), now as part of V.Group, will continue to be the sole provider of ship management services to Belships ASA, leveraging V.Group’s unique and fully scalable ship management platform. V.Group will also be providing a range of marine services, digitalisation and decarbonisation solutions for the benefit of all current and future managed vessels.

Belships Management (Singapore) includes offices in Singapore, Philippines, Yangon, Shanghai and Tianjin. 

This deal highlighted the ability of our broad Asia network to handle cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and multi-layered complex transactions, combining with our specialist sector expertise, to truly add value to our international clients.

"Recent years have shown the importance of the international shipping sector, at the heart of international supply chains," said Herbert Smith Freehills China corporate partner Calvin Ho, who led the cross-office team advising V.Group on the transaction. "We are ready to help clients in all part of the international supply chain adjust their portfolios throughout Asia and the world to take advantage of opportunities, and mitigate risks, in these challenging economic times."

Calvin was supported by associate Christie Wu in Hong Kong with assistance from associate Yilin Pei in Beijing, as well as senior associate Charles Wong and trainee solicitor Michelle Wu in Hong Kong. 

Singapore law advice was led by partners Ban Leong Oo and Victor Chiew and senior associate Weihong Lin from Prolegis.

Asia competition head Adelaide Luke and of counsel Joel Rheuben advised on competition law aspects of the deal.  Employment law advice was provided by Asia EPI head Fatim Jumabhoy and Gillian Miao from Kewei Shanghai.

Ocampo & Suralvo advised as Philippine counsel, and DFDL acted as Myanmar counsel.

V.Group总部设在伦敦，是世界领先的船舶管理和海洋解决方案提供商，管理着大约3,500艘船舶，在全球30个国家拥有约3,000名员工，为超过44,000名海洋和海上工作人员提供支持。Belship ASA是干散货船船东和运营商，成立于1918年，1937年在奥斯陆证券交易所上市。

Belship Management (Singapore)是一家成立于1983年的技术和船员管理公司，目前为Belship ASA和其他国际客户管理干散货船。根据2023年6月30日达成的战略合作伙伴关系，Belship Management (Singapore)将被整合至V.Group旗下，打造成一个行业领先的干散货运营专业中心。Belship Management (Singapore)将依托V.Group独特的完全可扩展船舶管理平台，继续作为Belship ASA的唯一船舶管理供应商。V.Group还将为现有及未来的船舶管理提供一系列海洋服务、数字化和脱碳解决方案。

Belship Management (Singapore)在新加坡、菲律宾、仰光、上海和天津设有办事处。

这笔交易体现了史密夫斐尔的业务实力。通过在亚洲市场的广泛布局，同时运用精深的专业知识，我们能够就跨境、涉及多司法管辖区，并具有多层次复杂性的交易提供法律服务，真正为国际客户创造价值。

史密夫斐尔中国公司事务部合伙人胡贵英律师(Calvin Ho)率领来自多个办公室的律师团队为V.Group 提供法律服务。他表示：“近年来的情况表明，国际航运业处于全球供应链的核心，其作用举足轻重。本所能够为处在全球供应链各个环节的客户服务，协助他们调整在亚洲乃至全球各地的投资组合，以便在当下这个充满挑战的经济时期把握机遇，化解风险。”

香港办公室胡乐诗(Associate)在该笔交易中提供支持，北京办公室裴一林(Associate)、香港办公室黄天朗(Senior Associate)和吴俞阳(Trainee Solicitor)提供协助。

史密夫斐尔新加坡联营所Prolegis合伙人Ban Leong Oo、合伙人Victor Chiew以及Weihong Lin (Senior Associate)就新加坡法律提供咨询。

亚洲竞争及反垄断业务主管合伙人陆雅丽以及资深顾问Joel Rheuben就竞争法提供咨询。亚洲劳动法业务主管合伙人Fatim Jumabhoy以及科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室顾问苗靖苑就劳动法提供咨询。

Ocampo & Suralvo律师事务所担任菲律宾法律顾问，DFDL律师事务所担任缅甸法律顾问。