OKEE Maritime is a young and innovative ship-owning company, supported by its sister-company OKEE Shipmanagement. Based in Hamburg, Germany, the group is focused on operating container vessels in regional feeder services, as well as product tankers around the world. General Manager Captain Dmytro Chekhovskyy discussed growth and future plans. Report by Antonia Cole.
Starting as a shipowner in 2016, OKEE Maritime (OM) acquired its first vessel, a 1,700 TEU container ship. Step-by-step OM had expanded to own another four container vessels, when it founded OKEE Shipmanagement (OSM) to steadily increase the technical knowhow and competence.
By 2020, OM had a fleet of nine vessels and was operating most of them through OSM, while continuing to cooperate also with other third-party managers. The development of both companies, OM and OSM, enabled the group to grow steadily and successfully.
“Using the expertise of OM and OSM, we have also been able to source and support marine tech start-ups that are helpful to our daily business,” said General Manager Captain Dmytro Chekhovskyy. “We have been very successful in this VC investing so far, which is important for the future of the company. At OKEE, we are always open to embracing new technology and innovations within the industry.”
OKEE also now has two MR tankers, which were bought in 2022, as well as some third-party container vessels under management.
Small and successful
With offices in Hamburg and Zurich, OKEE employs 16 people onshore and around 200 on board vessels. The group is comprised of three companies: OM, OSM and OKEE Dry Chartering (ODC). All investments are commercially managed by OM, with OSM acting as a technical manager on the group’s own vessels and third-party ships.
ODC then oversees the group’s dry chartering services, offering a highquality and efficient service. Overall, OKEE generates an annual turnover of approxi mately $50 million and has done so for the past couple of years.
“Although we have been successful, we are still a relatively small company,” explained Captain Chekhovskyy. “This factor, however, is our strength. We benefit from our smaller size, along with solid financials and a diversified and motivated team.
“We will probably not be forerunners in ordering new high-specification vessels, but there are still thousands of older vessels that are high-quality and very effective. It is much more sustainable to utilise existing vessels, upgrading them with modern technology, than it is to build an entirely new ship. We are able to wor k closely with technology companies to improve and optimise our vessels.”
The group was founded by Jan Wolff and Georg von Rantzau. Their good relationship and synergies between them stood as the starting point for OKEE’s cult ure of collaboration. The office is set up with everyone on one large table, fostering a sense of community and enabling effective communication.
“We all sit together, from technical to commercial managers,” added Captain Chekhovskyy. “Everyone has their own set of skills and talents, and with this setup, we can benefit from them all. There
are a lot of experienced people here, as well as many young people. This mix allows us to take the foundations of shipping and modernise them to suit the future of the evolving market.”
Doing it differently
As a group that focuses on innovation and development, two years ago OKEE completely renewed OSM. Only two years after its establishment, OKEE decided to reimagine the company’s structure and rebuild it from scratch.
“It was difficult at first, but it was a massive leap forward for the group,” commented Captain Chekhovskyy. “Wha t we have now is a company that we can effectively manage to provide excellent service. We have introduced a lot of new technologies and software, streamlining operations and improving capabilities. At OKEE, we are always striving to enhance
and refine our services, and we are not afraid to take action in order to do so.”
OSM is currently managing a selection of ‘heavy’ ships, one of which is 24 years old. This vessel is trading in the Indian Ocean, between small islands, and OSM’s services enable the ship to run efficiently and reliably. The company ensures that all the appropriate facilities, supplies and people are prepared to support the vessels operations.
The competitive OpEx still allows OKEE to provide larger salaries and better amenities for seafarers whilst away.
It is important to OKEE that it is properly supporting all crew that work on its vessels, especially since many internal employees have a background in seafaring. The company understands the requirements of the job and ensures that staff are well looked after.
“We also benefit from the fact that we are a diverse company in terms of our nationalities,” continued Captain Chekhovskyy. “We are able to speak the same language as many of the crew. A lot of the time, seafarers don’t feel confident enough to call management companies, due to the language barrier. This means
they are prevented from expressing their concerns or needs whilst at sea. We are available 24/7 for our crews, either by phone or message, which really highlights our dedication to crew wellbeing.”
Consequently, the phone usually does ring more often. However, this helps the team grow.
OKEE also has a new approach to purchasing, which sets it apart in the maritime industry. OKEE actively uses the second-hand market for vessel equipment, driven by both economic and environmental considerations. This strategy not only reduces costs but also contributes to sustainability by promoting the reuse and recycling of equipment.
OKEE has built up a robust relationship with several companies in India that supply fullyrenovated radio and nautical equipment. By opting for high-quality, refurbished items instead of new ones, OKEE is able to maintain the same high standards of service at a significantly lower cost.
Transparency and trust
The group is committed to being transparent in all operations, building trust with customers and suppliers. OKEE believes that trust is the foundation of long-term relationships and therefore, is honest and reliable in all projects.
“We strive to offer a more personal service,” said Captain Chekhovskyy. “Our focus isn’t on growing the company, it is on providing high-quality and reputable service to everyone we work with. We share our ideas and knowledge with our partners, so that we can all succeed together. We strongly respect our partners and are aware of the big variety of strength we find amongst our partners.”
Through regular calls and improvingly quick response times, OKEE is able to form reliable relationships with suppliers and partners, both new and old. The group’s strategy involves collaborating with other smaller companies and creating partnerships based on mutual respect and honesty.
Going forward, OKEE plans to maintain these relationships, whilst also taking on more third-party vessels for ship management. Additionally, the group will continue to utilise and integrate new technologies like AI, driving OKEE into the future.
“ We have built a solid foundation at OKEE, supported by talented staff,” added Captain Chekhovskyy, in conclusion.
“I enjoy facing the challenges of the shipping industry with my team and meeting new people from all around the world. I feel as though I have the opportunity to make a real positive impact on the sector at OKEE, which makes my work very rewarding.”
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