New General Manager for WSS Brazil

Press Release – Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has appointed Antonio Carvalho Junior as its new General Manager for Brazil. A former mariner, Carvalho brings 26 years of direct industry experience to this role from previous positions in logistics, shipping and ships agency. Discussing challenges that WSS customers face in the coming year, Carvalho raises concerns about shipping and off-shore industries development.

“2014 has been a challenging year. GDP will grow less than 1% and prospects are not very encouraging for 2015. GDP growth is directly related to the quantity of vessels operating in Brazil, which consequently has an impact on our business. Nevertheless, despite the conservative outlook, we have the challenge to grow WSS’s business in Brazil.”

Carvalho graduated from the Brazilian Merchant Marine School with a degree in Nautical Sciences and concluded post-graduate studies including an MBA in 2003. He was previously President of logistics service provider Lachmann Group, working on international business and gaining first-hand knowledge of the challenges of working with the Brazilian ports system and processes. He says this accumulated knowledge will be vital in helping WSS customers navigate the local ports efficiently.

“The Brazilian port system has a reputation for bureaucracy and for regulations that can be difficult to navigate, so owners need specialist assistance on how to manage them. The WSS team has a very strong operational knowledge and systems that can support customers in having faster turnarounds.”

He is also keen to help customers improve their productivity by taking advantage of the package offers that WSS makes available to help remove the burden of compliance from crew and managers.

“We know that for our customers profitability is under high pressure and we are able to help customers to enhance their productivity from their assets in practical ways. Our safety service agreements enable us to manage compliance of safety equipment and certification on the owner’s behalf, reducing in-house costs and the risk of non-compliance.”

WSS Brazil has its head office at Rio de Janeiro and operates at all ports in the country through its own offices and a sub-agents network.

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