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Norwegian maritime technology company Kongsberg Maritime opened a new office in Manila on October 23, strengthening its local operations as it seeks to expand customer support and business opportunities
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The office serves as a permanent base that will coordinate its simulation, propulsion, and maneuvering solutions, spare parts supply, and shipyard collaboration
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Kongsberg Maritime serves approximately 100 Philippine customers in maritime education and training, commercial shipping, government and maritime administration
Norwegian maritime technology company Kongsberg Maritime opened a new office in Manila on October 23, strengthening its local operations as it seeks to expand customer support and business opportunities in the Philippine maritime industry.
The office will serve as a local base for coordinating the company’s maritime simulation, propulsion and maneuvering solutions, spare parts supply, and shipyard partnerships.
Kongsberg Maritime currently has nine employees in the Philippines and plans to expand its commercial, technical and customer support capabilities in the country.
The company has approximately 100 Philippine customers across maritime education and training, commercial shipping, government and maritime administration.
“As a pioneer and one of the world’s leading providers of maritime simulation solutions, we recognize the Philippines’ critical role in supplying highly skilled seafarers to the global maritime industry. Our enhanced presence in Manila reinforces our commitment to supporting maritime academies, training centres, shipping companies and government stakeholders with advanced simulation technology, local expertise and closer collaboration,” said Are Føllesdal Tjønn, senior vice president for Maritime Simulation at Kongsberg Maritime.
“We look forward to continuing our contribution to maritime education and training in the Philippines for many years to come,” Tjønn added.
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The Manila office builds on more than 30 years of collaboration between Kongsberg Maritime’s Maritime Simulation business and the Philippine maritime sector.
Permanent presence
The company said a permanent local presence would allow it to respond more quickly to customer requirements, improve coordination on project planning and upgrades, and facilitate training and innovation initiatives.
It also plans to conduct more workshops, user meetings and training programs to strengthen knowledge transfer and better understand local industry requirements.
Establishing a local legal entity is expected to simplify commercial transactions, including the handling of applicable import and withholding taxes, Kongsberg said.
Lisa Edvardsen Haugan, president of Kongsberg Maritime, said the Philippines remains a strategic market because of its importance to the global maritime industry and the capabilities of its workforce.
“The Philippines has long been a strategic market for Kongsberg Maritime, both because of its importance to the global maritime industry and the exceptional talent found here. Establishing a permanent office in Manila demonstrates our confidence in the country and our commitment to supporting customers through local expertise, faster engagement and innovative solutions that contribute to safer, smarter and more sustainable maritime operations,” Haugan said.
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Kongsberg Maritime equips merchant, offshore, fishing and naval vessels with technology for safe, efficient, sustainable operations. Its systems operate on more than 30,000 vessels worldwide, supported by over 8,300 employees in 35 countries.
