2020 has been a difficult year for many in the maritime industry with shipping firms across a range of sectors facing difficult, if not existential challenges. For MEI however, it was a successful year in spite of the additional challenges of moving staff around Europe and into position to deliver their services to clients and 2021 looks even better.
MEI is an Irish-headquartered marine & cargo survey and consultancy company founded by Captain Johan Voogt and Sabrina Voogt-Toepoel. Both Johan and Sabrina have extensive sailing experience and were aware of a demand for quality and reliability in the European cargo surveying market. Along with their surveying staff they carry out a range of surveys and superintendency services from their Waterford office.
“Irish seafarers are well-known for their quality across the global commercial maritime industry, it was always a significant element of our business strategy to hire in Ireland for our service lines across Europe” according to CEO Capt Voogt, “This business requires an honesty and reliability beyond other elements of the sector and our growth has been due precisely to these qualities at MEI. Our clients love the difference between MEI, its staff and their traditional offerings in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Amsterdam- our busiest markets.”
With Brexit, a lot of Irish and EU companies may struggle with their logistics and the inspections of their cargoes. Some progress has made by connecting Ireland with mainland Europe with DFDS opening a new line from Dunkirk to Rosslare but this progress presents additional challenges to shippers.
“The Dunkirk/Calais region has unfortunate migrant issues which can often lead to cargo and equipment damage as desperate migrants seek to make the transit to the UK and Ireland” according to Capt Voogt, “MEI is there to offer independent damage and survey reports to the industry”.
The move to the new Marine Point offices was another milestone in the company’s development and a deliberate strategic move. Sabrina Voogt-Toepoel is the company’s Director of Finance and is based permanently in Ireland. She commented: “While the majority of our recent growth has been in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp area, and this continues to grow, we want to develop the local Irish market and we certainly see opportunities, particularly in the light of Brexit”.
Additional Information:
Considering our background, shipping is not a job. It is our DNA. Fully driven and committed to deliver excellence each time. Services provided by Maritime Expert Ireland:
•Bunker surveys
•On/off Hire Surveys
•Pre- purchase inspections
•Cargo surveys on dry cargos
•Cargo surveys on liquid cargos
•Cargo Superintendency / Expediting
•Loss control
•S-T-S Superintendancy
•Consultancy
•HAZMAT (IHM) inspections.
Contact Details:
https://maritimeexpertireland.com/
Office: +353 (0)51 830 402
24hr: +353 (0)85 215 6992
Email:info@maritimeexpertireland.com