Strategy
Development
Marsoft
has worked closely with
decision makers across the
shipping industry for more
than 25 years. In our
experience, company
strategies are as varied as
the companies themselves,
but they all have one
critical factor in common;
they depend heavily on a
thorough understanding of
corporate market exposure.
It follows
that, for any corporate
strategy to have value, it
is critical to continuously
measure the aggregated
market exposure inherited in
a portfolio of shipping
investments and to
understand and predict the
cyclical markets these
investments are exposed to.
Marsoft
has unique expertise in
capturing and benchmarking
diverse shipping related
portfolios and offer best
practice solutions to our
clients. We offer detailed
insight to key cyclical
drivers of shipping markets
and ensure maximum leverage
of internal market
information.
Cycle Management
Commodity
shipping markets are highly
cyclical by nature and
charter rates and vessel
values can change
dramatically when cycles
turn. Over time we have seen
many fortunes been made and
lost due to rapid and
unexpected cyclical changes
and we strongly recommend
all industry players to
include active cycle
management as a critical
foundation for their broader
strategy.
Active
cycle management requires
close monitoring and
interpretation of regional
macro economic developments
and their impact on the flow
of the main seaborne
commodities.
Combining the macro
and trade picture with a
clear understanding of fleet
growth will provide a solid
basis for evaluating
potential changes in the
shipping environment and how
rates and prices may be
affected in the short and
longer term.
In a
market as complex and
dynamic as shipping keeping
focus on the critical market
drivers is a challenging
task and one in which the
details can easily overwhelm
the big picture. Marsoft
offer flexible solutions for
integrating ongoing cycle
management into broader
shipping strategies
depending on specific client
needs.
Super Retainer
Given the
current global financial
meltdown and the devastating
effects on the shipping
industry, Marsoft has
launched a brand new service
to ensure our clients have
the best possible procedures
and processes in place to
see and act upon threats and
opportunities.
Our goal
is to enable clients to make
rational decisions on entry
and exit strategies based on
their current portfolio and
the direction of the
underlying markets. The
service is tailored to
support each client’s
ongoing needs and ambition
and will focus on the
critical success factors in
the market.
In close
interaction with the client
we discuss and conclude on
key topics:
-
Establish a long term
perspective and define a
normal range in which
rates and values will
fluctuate over time.
-
Close monitoring and
interpretation of global
and regional macro
economic developments
and key implications for
seaborne trade.
-
Shipbuilding market and
implications of limited
capital available to
owners and yards.
-
Comparative analysis
across shipping markets
-
Scenario building
sessions and
interpretation
Based on
the clients need and
preference, Marsoft designs
an ongoing service to
monitor market key drivers
and provide continuous
market evaluation on key
ship types.
Investment & Risk Management
Seminar
Recent Strategic Work
LNG Transportation
Marsoft
has developed and
implemented a strategic plan
for acquisition and
operation of a fleet of
large LNG carriers. The
assignment was initiated by
an international energy
company bidding for
participation in a new gas
field. Key goals were to
ensure security and
regularity of cargo
movements at lowest possible
cost and to anchor the
strategy within the
organization.
Liner Pricing & Strategy
Marsoft’s
client operates a liner
service in a regulated
US
domestic trade. Marsoft was
retained to help evaluate
the costs and profitability
of each segment of their
business and to develop a
strategy to shift their
business to a fully
containerized mode.
Compatibility with
regulatory pricing and
reporting requirements was
(and is) a critical
consideration. One component
of the project was a “cost
of service” model by cargo
category to determine
profitability by line of
business which was used to
support revisions to its
client’s published tariff
schedules; Marsoft developed
the model and supported
regulatory validation. An
assessment of the cost
savings of containerization,
the impact on profitability
and investment requirement
was developed to support the
containerization strategy
Special Projects
Strategic
analysis and advice for
divestment of a fleet of dry
bulk carriers:
Proposed a divestment
strategy for Marsoft’s
client to time the
divestment of twelve vessels
in a way that maximizes the
client’s return. Scope of
work included a risk
assessment of timing and
exit strategy, sensitivity
of fleet valuation to market
scenarios, and development
of alternative strategies.
The project included a
comprehensive strategy
evaluation with
recommendations followed by
quarterly reviews and
updates to the strategy
throughout the divestment
period.
For
more information about
Marsoft consulting services
please contact our offices
in
London, Singapore, Oslo
or
Boston.
