Wilhelmsen handles biggest ever bulker in Bergen

Leading maritime service network Wilhelmsen Ships Service
handled the arrival of Pelicana when she berthed at Bergen’s
inner port, the longest bulk vessel ever to do so. She is the
world’s most sophisticated open-hatch gantry-craned vessel
Pelicana was delivered from Oshima Shipyard on July 22,
and is operated by Westfal-Larsen Shipping AS, Bergen. Being
on her maiden voyage, this was her first visit to her
operator's home town, so it was important that Wilhelmsen
“I had excellent cooperation from the account manager at
Wilhelmsen Ships Service, Jan Nordvik” said Oivin Ask,
operations manager for Westfal-Larsen. “We spent the week
prior to the arrival planning the visit together, and covered
every imaginable contingency in our preparations.”
The port call was a good opportunity to celebrate and
Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s careful arrangements ensured that
initial obstacles were overcome. This included arranging for a
tug to assist the vessel in berthing and leaving port at the
Master’s request, despite her sophisticated manoeuvring
capabilities. Construction of a scaffolding staircase was also
arranged for the gangway from the ship, and coordination of
security arrangements carried out for a company function and
presentation. These services were supplied in addition to all
normal port-call operations provide by Wilhelmsen Ships
Pelicana made a smooth berthing, and held an official
reception on schedule.
“We have a long history of working with Wilhelmsen Ships
Service, all around the world,” explained Oivin. “Apart from
Bergen, we have extensive operations in Europe, the Middle
East and the Far East. Wherever possible, we use a
Wilhelmsen Ships Service ships agent. This is because they
have standardized their port call operations around the
world, so we get the same quality everywhere. Also, it is very
convenient to have one organization to contact, knowing that
we have a reliable back-up from the head office in Oslo as
well as from our Wilhelmsen Ships Service contact in Bergen.
We receive all documentation and invoices from the same
The 212.5 m long vessel is owned by Masterbulk Private
Limited, Singapore.