An exciting new venture is about to unfold in the Mediterranean: Shipping and logistics companies Harren Group, Kestrel Italia and Intermare have joined forces to found KestrelMare S.r.l. This move will strengthen their shared operations in Italy while expanding their project cargo and heavy lift activities. Genoa-based KestrelMare is the new one-stop shop for all kinds of project and heavy lift cargo in Italy.

“KestrelMare is taking over all Intermare and Kestrel Italia business units, merging them under one brand,” explains Adolfo Herrero, General Manager at Kestrel Italia. “The new team combines experienced staff from both former companies, allowing us to offer much broader, more dedicated support to all our customers.”

KestrelMare is the new representative office in Italy for Harren Group, including its brands SAL Heavy Lift, Intermarine and Combi Lift. It also serves the JSI Alliance with Dutch joint venture partner Jumbo Shipping, a company that Kestrel Italia has been supporting as commercial agent for over 30 years. KestrelMare is operating as a new brand, offering maritime services to customers. The new joint venture has access to a globally unique fleet of heavy lift vessels – including the JSI Alliance fleet (65 ships).

Adolfo Herrero, Guglielmo Viola, Stefania Morasso and Marco Campodonico make up KestrelMare’s Management Team.

Stefania Morasso is excited about the joint venture: “We are very much looking forward to working with Harren Group and Kestrel. Like us, they are family-owned companies that want to expand their activities in the project cargo and heavy lift segments. By joining forces, Harren, Kestrel and Intermare will strengthen their product portfolios. Customers will benefit from more choices and better solutions.”

Guglielmo Viola adds: “We understand the needs of industrial clients and major forwarders worldwide. At KestrelMare, we are committed to providing our customers with high-quality solutions in all our areas of expertise – from break bulk to super heavy lift. When heavy, oversized or unusual cargo needs to be transported to any destination, we are there to help.”

Two of Italy’s most established shipping agencies, Kestrel Italia (founded in 1988 by Captain Carlo Viola) and Intermare (founded in 1980 by Giorgio Morasso) are maritime companies rich in tradition. They come from the world of Genoese maritime brokers and aim to provide a specialised, high-profile response to the needs of the project cargo and heavy lift sectors. Harren Group is the majority owner of Intermare.

Marco Campodonico stresses: “The new setup is good for us because it’s good for our customers. It extends our scope of action to create customized solutions. This new format will help us develop even higher standards in maritime transport logistics and project engineering. At the same time, our customers can rest assured that nothing will change in terms of the high level of services we have always provided. The only difference: They can now draw on the entire expertise, assets and network of Harren Group and Kestrel when needed – a valuable new benefit.”

KestrelMare headquarters ([email protected]) is located at Corso Paganini, 39/2, 16125 Genova. Easily accessible, it is conveniently located near Genova’s major business districts. Intermare’s and Kestrel’s e-mail addresses will be operational until the end of the year and all e-mails will be automatically forwarded to the new accounts.

“Italy is a market with a very bright future for the project and heavy lift industries. We’ve seen great potential there for a long time,” explains Harren Group CEO Dr Martin Harren. “Establishing KestrelMare is such an important strategic step for us. It provides new perspectives and opportunities in Italy and the entire Mediterranean region.”

Harren continues: “We’re already very familiar with Kestrel. For many years, they were the Italian agent for our friends and partners at Jumbo. KestrelMare is a real powerhouse in the international shipping industry – making the joint venture between the three brands a perfect match. All three companies have a long, shared past. Now, they can look forward to a bright future together.”