Cruise ship management: ‘thriving’

V.Ships Leisure's recent contracts include Azamara Cruise

In 2022, Anglo-Eastern Univan Group acquired Cruise Management International (CMI) and CMI Leisure Management (CMIL) from shareholders, including SunStone Maritime Group.

CMIL president and chief executive Dietmar Wertanzl tell PST he is excited about the opportunities the acquisition is bringing. “We are now part of a much larger, stronger company and will have a significantly broader scope. Anglo-Eastern is one of the world’s leading ship managers and we are excited to have such a strong parent with more horsepower.” 

The takeover of CMI and CMIL allows Anglo-Eastern to enter the cruise industry, a new sector for the company. Mr Wertanzl says, “Anglo-Eastern primarily manages non-passenger vessels, but our two businesses share the same values and synergies we can each build upon, plus our hotel sector is a nice extension of its brand.”

Anglo-Eastern is the world’s largest provider of independent ship management services, with full management of more than 650 vessels, more than 1,800 shore-based staff, and 30,000 active seafarers.

Its acquisition by Anglo-Eastern is already proving beneficial for CMIL, which is creating a new digital platform for hiring crew and managing their experiences. CMIL is working with its new parent on the app. “They already have a template, and we are working to tie into that,” says Mr Wertanzl.

CMI and CMIL will continue to operate from Miami.

CMIL has 12 ships in operation this year and will provide the hotel management of Albatross Expeditions’ Ocean Albatross next year.

The ship management company is still seeing challenges after the pandemic. “We are still facing global issues. The logistical challenges have not gone away, though we hope they will, with fewer headwinds and more tailwinds. By Q3 and Q4 this year, it should improve. People are excited to travel again, and we are pleased to have 12 ships in operation to help them do just that and enjoy memorable experiences,” says Mr Wertanzl.

A big focus for CMIL is sustainability and accordingly it has launched its Green Initiative Programme 3.0. This takes the principles of recycling, reducing and reusing.

Mr Wertanzl says, “Sustainable practices are very important to us and take precedence at Anglo-Eastern, which is committed to shaping a better maritime future through carbon-neutral shore operations and decarbonising its managed fleet. Our programme dovetails nicely with this and is constantly evolving through the adoption of new best practices. Currently, we are looking at everything from chemicals to plastics and how to do better.”