40 maritime companies stand together:
Hirtshals Service Group ensures continued ship service despite changes at the port
From the beginning of next year, Port of Hirtshals will experience changes as activities from the shipyard Hirtshals Yard will be transferred to its sister company, Vestkajens Maskinværksted. As part of this transition, the shipyard’s floating dock will be closed, raising questions about whether this will impact the port’s capacity to service, repair, and maintain ships. The more than 40 companies in Hirtshals Service Group assure that Port of Hirtshals remains a highly attractive service hub for vessels from all of Europe.
In October, it was announced that the floating dock at Hirtshals Yard will close in early 2025, while the shipyard’s other activities will be taken over by the sister company Vestkajens Maskinværksted. This ensures that Vestkajens Maskinværksted and the rest of the companies in the port’s maritime network still are ready to offer comprehensive solutions for ship repair and servicing to both national and international vessels.
The over 40 companies in the port’s maritime network, Hirtshals Service Group, are united in ensuring that there is no doubt about the industry’s capacity to accommodate vessels for repairs in Hirtshals.
- Of course, we take into consideration that the floating dock will be phased out next year, but our resources to service ships from all over Europe remain unique. The port offers over 450,000 square meters of water area and 4.7 kilometres of quay length, so it is suitable for everything from large trawlers to smaller boats. We also have companies with a remarkable sense of collaboration, who can solve all types of ship service tasks 24/7, 365 days a year. That’s one of the reasons why the companies in Hirtshals Service Group stand together to inform about our many services, says Per Christensen, Chair of Hirtshals Service Group.
A European motorway on water
At the Port of Hirtshals, ships from for example Norway, Scotland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands can often be seen alongside local vessels. This international presence is an effect of the port’s strategic location, which serves as a natural hub for maritime traffic to and from all of Europe. The port’s reputation for swift and efficient ship service around the clock further attracts maritime traffic to the town.
- Whether we’re receiving a vessel that needs engine work, surface treatment, electrical installations, interior outfitting, or other services, our customers know they only need to be in contact with one place. All companies in Hirtshals Service Group ensure that relevant tasks are passed on to the right suppliers, providing customers with an efficient, streamlined solution. This makes the process simple for shipowners, explains Per Christensen.
Per Christensen adds that visits from both local and international vessels positively impact the entire Hirtshals Service Group. Success for one company often creates a domino effect within the network, and as Per Christensen notes, this collaboration is what makes the maritime network’s close relationships so evident to customers who choose Hirtshals as a destination for their ship service needs.
A network with Hirtshals spirit
In Hirtshals Service Group Linn Indrestrand, Head of Fishery & Maritime Services at Port of Hirtshals, partakes as a board member and supports the network’s many initiatives.
- Port of Hirtshals is built on a unique DNA, which can be felt both in the town of Hirtshals and among the businesses at the port. It’s a DNA characterised by North Jutland humility, hard work, and a genuine interest in other people. Hirtshals Service Group strengthens this DNA among the companies at the port, who are brought even closer together to collaborate and collectively develop the port’s activities and resources as a collective, explains Linn Indrestrand.
Many of the companies in Hirtshals Service Group are long-standing players at the Port of Hirtshals, but Linn Indrestrand emphasises that there is always an opportunity to join the maritime network.
Facts about Hirtshals Service Group
Hirtshals Service Group is a maritime network consisting of over 40 companies, collectively providing a single entry point for full-service of local and international vessels. The network services all types of ships, such as fishing vessels, ferries, cargo ships, and naval vessels.
The services offered by Hirtshals Service Group include:
- Ship service and shipbuilding – Expertise in all areas of maintenance, repair, and reconstruction.
- Shipping, stevedoring, and logistics – Procurement of spare parts, cargo handling, and redistribution.
- Fishing industry and port services – Fish reception, ice production facilities, sailmakers, net makers, and port services for fishing vessels.
- Bunkers, provisions, and road supply – Oil companies and ship provisioning.
- Financial advisory services – Guidance for vessels and port-related businesses.