Wintermar Shareholders Approve New Share Issuance for Future Growth

JAKARTA, Aug 19, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk (WINS:JK) held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM") on 19th August 2021, attended by a quorum of more than 84% of shareholders. This was the first time the Company conducted a hybrid AGM, utilizing the new eASY.KSEI platform for virtual AGM, which also provided an electronic system for shareholders to register their votes. The meeting also met the quorum of attendance by a majority of independent shareholders, which was necessary for the approval of the share issuance without pre-emptive rights, according to OJK regulations.

All agenda items were approved, including the issuance of 415 million shares without pre-emptive rights, in which only independent shareholders were allowed to vote.

Apart from receiving and approving the Annual Report for FY2020, the Meeting also approved the appointment of Mr Sim Idrus Munandar as an Independent Commissioner. Mr Sim holds several positions as Commissioner and Independent Director in listed companies on the IDX and Singapore Stock Exchange. At the meeting, Mr Johnson Williang Sutjipto, who has been a Commissioner since Wintermar was listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2010, stepped down from his position. Mr Sugiman Layanto, Managing Director, thanked Mr Johnson W. Sutjipto for his very significant contribution to Wintermar Group, especially for his wisdom and guidance in steering the Company through the challenging period of the past few years.

During the AGM, Finance Director Janto Lili reported on the results for FY2020 where the Company made a gross profit despite being affected by postponement and cancellation of contracts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking forward, Managing Director Sugiman Layanto outlined the positive business outlook for the offshore support vessel industry now that the oil price has recovered to above US$70 per barrel and several large oil and gas projects are planned for the next few years in Asia, with Indonesia's SKK Migas also setting an ambitious production target to reach 1 million barrels per day of oil equivalent by 2030.

With gearing below 30% by end June 2021, after streamlining the fleet and reducing overhead costs, Wintermar is now ready to start investing again. Management has been pursuing several potential opportunities to invest in assets to grow the profitability of the Company and the new share issuance provides access to funding when needed.

As at end of June 2021, the Company's Contracts on hand amounted to US$69 million.

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by an experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor Relations
PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel: +62-21 530 5201 Ext 401
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Newly-formed Labuan Economic Sector Coalition urges federal gov to begin dialogue to formulate fair SOP

LABUAN, Malaysia, Aug 12, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The newly-formed Labuan Economic Sector Coalition (the "Coalition") which comprises of various associations and business organizations released a press statement to express its grave concerns on the prospects facing Labuan due to unfair application of new SOP requirements, which are causing shipping firms and related major economic sectors to slow down or completely halt their activities on the island. This is despite the fact that Labuan is first among territories and states in Malaysia to have fully-vaccinated over 80% of its population and achieved herd immunity.


Labuan

Ts Daniel Doughty


The Labuan Economic Sector Coalition Members comprises of various associations and business organizations including Labuan Freight Forwarder Association, Sabah Shipping Agent Association, Malaysia Offshore Support Vessels Owners Association (MOSVA), Malaysia Shipowners' Association (MASA), Petronas, Labuan Shipyard & Engineering, Megah Port Management, Asian Supply Base, Sabah Flour & Feed Mills and Antara Steel.

The Coalition's lead facilitator Ts Daniel Doughty said that import and export difficulties in Labuan started on July 16 when all visiting local and foreign ships were required to stay in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days to a maximum of 21 days. Merchant ships have shown reluctance to visit Labuan to avoid paying substantial charges triggered by a prolonged stay at the port due to the quarantine rule. The new SOP has also disrupted the supply chain security for more than 3 weeks despite marine transportation being included in the essential services by Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN). As a result, parts and machinery supplies as well as oil and gas production are affected, while ship yards are burdened with losses of contracts and delay penalties.

Appeals to the District Disaster Management Committee (JPBD Labuan) and Federal Territory Ministry by various parties here have been left unresolved, and shipping SOP requirements that were updated have not been favourable despite Labuan successfully moving on to Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan due to its splendid record in managing Covid-19.

"All of this disappointment and frustration can be easily solved if JPBD Labuan is willing to have a dialogue with the stakeholders and formulate a winning SOP for all parties, and also recognize that we cannot expect to have an SOP to fit all types of business operations. It does not work and the impact in the long run, is towards the Labuan community and not just the businesses," commented Ts Daniel.

MOSVA President Mohamed Safwan Othman said that there are on average 10 to 15 offshore support vessels (OSVs) loading essential supplies for 7000+ personnel working at offshore platforms and rigs. He explained, "With SOP phase-3, these vessels are subjected to 7-day quarantines and crews have to undergo RT-PCR test after every completed trip. One round trip which takes 1 to 3 days, involves zero contact with personnel at jetties and platforms/rigs. Therefore, these vessels which perform supply run dedicated for the oil and gas industry should be exempted from repeated quarantine and RT-PCR tests. Before signing on, each crew has already completed a 14-day quarantine with 2 swab tests thus they should be safe in their respective green bubbles. These phase-3 SOPs are a significant interruption to the supply runs and consequently the national oil production."

Notably, a representative from MASA Mr James Ong pointed out that Port Klang was not subject to similarly applied SOP requirements, despite being located in Selangor which is still in Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan. He said, "The stringent SOPs currently in place would have been necessary when Labuan was still deep in the pandemic two to three months ago. However, Labuan's situation has greatly improved thus the introduction of these SOPs are outdated."

Coalition Member, Megah Port Management managing director Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin echoed MASA's dismay on the discrimination against Labuan and warned that if the government did not take action quickly, the oil and gas sector here could come to a grinding halt.

"Vessels with Labuan-consigned containers have shown reluctance to make a stop at Labuan and have chosen instead to discharge their cargo at the nearest ports such as Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu. There, they are able to get port health clearance to dock without quarantine as well. Some shipping firms have even decided to halt their activities here because of the unfair Labuan condition.

It is ironic that hundreds of lorries and drivers can enter the island from Sabah (human contact) each day while ships with far less crews (with no human contact) are restricted and forced to quarantine," said Mohd Bakri.

He added that the situation is worrying because at the end of the day, the problems of shortages and rising costs of imports would trickle down to the consumers in Labuan.

The Coalition has formally requested a dialogue session with the relevant authorities and has expressed their willingness to be proactive and help shape up a winning SOP. At the time of the announcement, they have yet to receive a response.

An emergency online meeting was held yesterday among the Coalition Members to formulate a consensus on the way forward, and most importantly to begin documenting the past and future impacts due to the unconsulted, rigid SOPs that was created by the authority.

"The shipping industry and O&G sector is presently the most significant pillar of the local economy, as this is the main source of income and livelihood for most of the people in Labuan while the tourism sector is still inactive. We urge the federal government and relevant authorities to address and solve this matter immediately, before it inevitably deals a severe blow to many other essential sectors in a chain effect," concluded the Coalition's lead facilitator Ts Daniel.

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Reports 1H2021 Results

JAKARTA, Aug 12, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Wintermar Offshore Marine (WINS:JK) has announced results for 1H2021, achieving a gross profit of US$3.3 million for 1H2021, compared to gross loss of US$0.66 million for the same period last year, with fleet utilization recovering to 63%.

Utilization improved from 61% in 1Q2021 to 63% in 2Q2021 as oil prices climbed, bringing total revenue for 1H2021 to US$20.1 million, just 8% lower than 1H2020. Due to the cost control measures and streamlining of fleet carried out, total direct costs reduced by 26% thus producing a gross profit of US$3.3 million for 1H2021.

–Owned Vessel Division

Owned Vessel Revenue declined slightly by 3%YOY to US$16.7 million in 1H2021, but total direct costs for the division for 1H2021 fell sharply by 25% to US$14 million, thereby contributing US$2.7 million of Owned Vessel gross profit. The cost reduction was mainly due to the sale of vessels and a reorganization of the vessel management structure to reduce overheads.

–Chartering and Other Services

Although chartering revenue fell by 27% YOY to US$2.6 million for 1H2021, the Division still recorded a gross profit of US$0.36 million, up 22% YOY. Gross profit from other services fell by 32% YOY to US$0.22 million.

–Indirect Expenses and Operating Loss

Indirect expenses fell by 14% in 1H2021 to US$1.2 million compared to 1H2020, largely due to a 10% YOY drop in staff salary to US$1.8 million, as the number of employees declined as a result of a smaller fleet and cost efficiency measures. Office Utilities fell by 33% YOY as the Company implemented Work from Home for most of the past few months to reduce mobility in the pandemic. As tendering activity picked up, marketing costs in 1H2021 rose by 140% YOY to US$0.15 million.

The Company booked an operating profit of US$0.7 million for 1H2021, compared to a loss of US$3.7 million in 1H2020, reflecting a marked improvement in the industry environment this year.

–Other Income, Expenses and Net Attributable profit

Interest expenses were 37% lower in 1H2021 to US$1.2 million as the Company has continued to pay down debt. Associated companies turned in a very small loss, but there was a gain of US$1 million from the sale of vessels. Profit before tax for 1H2021 amounted to US$0.35 million compared to a loss of US$4.2 million in 1H2020.

Net income before tax for 1H2021 was US$0.35 million, compared to a loss of US$4.2 million in 1H2021. After tax and minorities, the net loss attributable to Shareholders amounted to US$0.56 million compared to US$4.0 million loss attributable to shareholders in 1H2020.

EBITDA for 1H2021 also rose by 11% YOY to US$7.4 million.

–Oil & Gas Industry

Since the beginning of 2021, the oil price has consistently trended up, providing strong support for the offshore industry. Although the delta variant of the coronavirus has presented challenges for many countries, the rising vaccination rates around the world have also brought mobility. The gradual opening up of economies again has added to the demand for oil and gas, prompting offshore oil and gas projects to commence, with some energy industry experts are projecting a shortage of supply coming up due to the declining productivity of existing oilfields.

–Offshore Vessels

Since early 2021 there has been a rising trend for offshore activity, with more tenders being issued. This can be seen in higher utilization rates and charter rates in most offshore vessel segments.

Most vessel operators are seeing better utilization as a result. However, the delta variant which has spread globally has caused some disruptions to operations, as COVID19 infections suddenly spiked in June and July. Although this will have a short term impact on vessel utilization, the longer term outlook still remains more positive.

–Strategy and Outlook

In recent months, there has been an increase in new proposals as the outlook for offshore vessels continues to look more favourable for the years ahead. Offshore Wind is an industry which is expected to see a sharp rise in investment, with Taiwan leading the Asian investments in this new field.

The Company is considering several proposals at the moment and is planning to start investment in new assets to grow the business. One of the strategies is to continue selling some vessels and keep a more focused fleet, while managing the gearing and cash flow.

The Company has proposed an issuance of non pre-emptive shares to be approved at the upcoming AGM on 19th August 2021, to provide the flexibility to raise some equity should the opportunity to invest arise.

In addition, the Company continues to build up ship management capability through investment into software and digitization of processes to provide more cost efficiency and better controls. With these capabilities, the Company will be able to grow the third party ship management business to provide more fee based income without heavy capital investment.

Contracts on hand as at end July 2021 totalled US$69 million.

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by an experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.

Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor Relations
PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel +62-21 530 5201 Ext 401
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Straits receives approval from Marine Department to commence operation for Asia’s Largest STS Energy Transhipment Hub in Labuan

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Straits Inter Logistics Berhad ("Straits" or "Company"), a Bursa Malaysia Listed Company, announced today that Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd ("Victoria STS") had received approval from Marine Department Malaysia on 30 July 2021 to commence operations to develop an integrated offshore Ship-to-Ship Transhipment Hub. The Company has mobilized its resources and infrastructure in preparation to commence operation of the STS Transhipment Hub in the coming fourth quarter 2021.



Victoria STS is a 70% owned subsidiary of Fajar Maritime and Logistics Sdn Bhd, which in turn is a 60% owned subsidiary of Straits.

Concurrently, Victoria STS has also on 30 July 2021 received approval from Marine Department Malaysia on the Marine Risk Assessment ("MRA") in accordance with the terms of reference of MRA. The assessment was done as part of the requirements to be complied before 8 January 2022 to develop an integrated offshore Ship-to-Ship ("STS") Energy Transhipment Hub within the port limits of Victoria Bay.

The Company expects to commence and complete the development of the STS Energy Transhipment Hub which includes setting up the key facilities and equipment such as tugboats, pneumatic fenders, LNG cryogenic equipment and single point mooring system by the fourth quarter of 2021.

Marine Department Malaysia had on 12 July 2021 granted the approval for the Company to develop the STS as announced to Bursa Malaysia.

The STS hub will be Straits' flagship energy project which will be located within the port limits of Victoria Bay deep water area spanning a vast 3309 hectares supporting an initial six (6) STS berths with safe water depths of up to 30 meters. The development will advance the introduction of state-of-the-art multi-functional energy transhipment facilities that will be able to accommodate LNG carriers up to the size of a Q-Max and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC).

Victoria Bay is strategically located along international shipping and energy trade routes. Straits' plan to develop the STS Hub is set to be one of the largest offshore LNG and LPG energy transhipment hubs in Asia. The STS hub is also strategically located within the vicinity of Labuan Liberty Port which is managed and operated by Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd ("MPM'), a 51% owned subsidiary of Straits.

Commenting on the latest development, Straits Group Managing Director Dato Sri Ron Ho Kam Choy said, "Since our announcement on 12 July 2021 on the STS Transhipment Hub, we have received numerous enquiries from both notable international and local entities that are interested in partnering us to develop this into Asia's largest STS Transhipment Hub. We are engaged in discussion with many parties in preparation for this project and Straits is gearing to kickstart this within the next few months. The other entities within the Straits Group will also stand to benefit from the business spin-offs of this project."

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

JWD to acquire 20% stake in ESCO, sealing partnership with PSA

BANGKOK, Jul 27, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – JWD InfoLogistics PLC (JWD), specialized in ASEAN logistics and supply chain solutions, announces a major investment, when on July 23 it agreed to acquire a 20% stake in ESCO, a Thai shipping container port operator and supply chain operator, with PSA Singapore, the world's largest port operator by equity-weighted throughput, as ESCO shareholder. With the acquisition, JWD will become a major international container terminal operator at Laem Chabang Deep-Sea Port and inland container depot (ICD) service provider at Ladkrabang, increasing its capability for multimodal transportation services, by land, sea and rail.


JWD InfoLogistics (SET: JWD), ASEAN top specialist in supply chain solutions, will acquire up to 20% of ESCO, the operator of international container terminals at 3 locations within Thailand's Laem Chabang deep-sea port.


Mr Charvanin Bunditkitsada, Executive Committee Chairman and CEO of JWD, said "This investment is in line with our 5-year strategic plan to increase capability for multimodal transportation services. On July 23, our Board of Directors authorized JWD Transport (Thailand) Company Limited, a subsidiary of JWD, to acquire 20% of the shares in Eastern Sea Laem Chabang Terminal (ESCO), a major international container terminal operator at Laem Chabang Deep-sea Port in Chonburi Province and an inland container depot (ICD) service provider at Ladkrabang. With the share acquisition, JWD also becomes a business partner of PSA, manager and operator of Singapore's world-class transshipment hub, as PSA is also a shareholder in ESCO.

"We consider this significant investment a major undertaking this year, to be funded by the recent issuance of debentures as well as from operating cash flow. Initially, JWD Transport will take a 15% effective share in ESCO, with an option to increase to 20% within the next 6-12 months," Mr Charvanin said.

ESCO currently operates international container terminals at 3 locations within the Laem Chabang Deep-Sea Port; i) ESCO (B3), where ESCO directly develops and manages a concession from the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT); ii) LCB1 (B1) terminal and iii) LCMT (A0) terminal, with ESCO a shareholder of the company that holds the concession to operate both terminals. In 2020, the three cargo terminals handled about 2 million twenty foot-equivalent units (TEUs), or 20% of the total throughput processed at the Laem Chabang Deep-Sea Port. The demand for services at the international container terminals is expected to grow continuously with the recovery of the world economy following improvements in the pandemic situation in the USA and Europe.

ESCO is also one of 6 inland container depot (ICD) service providers at Ladkrabang handling container traffic for various shipping lines not located within Laem Chabang Port, helping reduce lead time and transportation cost. Revenue is derived from the operation of the container yard and import and export warehouses, along with Customs clearance services, and furbishing and transporting containers by land and rail – which will increase opportunity for JWD's freight business and offering additional services to users of Ladkrabang ICD Station.

"JWD expects to realize its share of capital gains from ESCO no later than October," Mr Charvanin added. "The investment in ESCO will serve as an extension of our international freight port operations in Laem Chabang. With our stake in Transimex, a major logistics provider from Vietnam, incoming international shipping port service business will empower us to provide multimodal transportation services, connect a wide range of freight services including by car, rail, water, and increase the opportunity to expand our customer base from container port service and ICD Ladkrabang station service to provide a full range of logistics services.

"JWD is already providing multimodal transportation services, such as transportation and transfer of general cargo, vehicles, hazardous cargo and chemicals, the transportation of cargo from Bangkok to the international container terminal at Laem Chabang, the lifting and transport of containers by rail from the Northeast, from the Eastern Economic Community (EEC), as well as the industries from Rayong Province to Laem Chabang Port. Therefore, this investment will help to expand our customer base as well as both our Bangkok-to-Laem Chabang and ICD Ladkrabang-to-Laem Chabang transportation services. Also significant is the provision for using the cargo traffic data from Laem Chabang international port to further develop our logistics capabilities," Mr. Charvanin concluded.

Visit: JWD InfoLogistics PLC (SET: JWD); Bloomberg: JWD.TB, Reuters: JWD.BK; https://jwd-group.com/en/.
Media: Yuttachai Praikanahok, MT Multimedia for JWD, T: +66 9 1736 2866, E: yuttachai.p@mtmultimedia.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Straits Inter Logistics set to develop Asia’s largest STS Energy Transhipment Hub after receiving approval from Marine Department Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 12, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Straits Inter Logistics Berhad ("Straits" or "Company"), a Bursa Malaysia Listed Company, announced today that it has received approval from Marine Department Malaysia for Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd ("Victoria STS") to develop an integrated offshore Ship-to-Ship (STS) Energy Transhipment Hub within the port limits of Victoria Bay, Labuan. Victoria STS is a 70% owned subsidiary of Fajar Maritime and Logistics Sdn Bhd, which in turn is a 60% owned subsidiary of Straits.



The STS hub will be Straits' energy flagship project which will be located within the port limits of Victoria Bay deep water area spanning a vast 3309 hectares supporting an initial six (6) STS berths with safe water depths of up to 30 meters. The development will advance the introduction of state-of-the-art multi-functional energy transhipment facilities that will be able to accommodate LNG carriers up to the size of a Q-Max and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC).

Victoria Bay is strategically located along the international shipping and energy trade routes. Straits' plan to develop the STS Hub is set to be one of the largest offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) energy transhipment hubs in Asia. The STS hub is also strategically located within the vicinity of Labuan Liberty Port which is managed and operated by Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd ("MPM'), a 51% owned subsidiary of Straits.

The STS hub will be highly synergistic to Straits' existing operations, leveraging on Straits' bunkering and port services.

The first phase of the STS hub will be to develop a modern anchorage-based and Single Point Mooring system infrastructure supporting up to six (6) Deepwater Mooring Berths. This infrastructure will streamline cargo compatibility with LNG, LPG, Liquefied Ethylene Gas (LEG) and Bulk Petroleum and Oil cargoes. The STS hub is slated to commence operation by the 4th Quarter of 2021.

To ensure the success of the STS energy transhipment hub, Victoria STS has joined hands with two key partners, namely MISC Maritime Services Sdn Bhd ("MMS") and STS Marine Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd ("STSM") as strategic collaboration partners in the development of the hub. In the earlier planning stage, both MMS and STSM have separately signed Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Victoria STS with a view to facilitate further Definitive Agreements when the STS hub materialised.

MMS is a member of the MISC Group of Companies and it serves as the centre for maritime services in the provision of marine assurance and compliance, port and terminal management and operations, and consultancy services to a range of clients in the energy sector. Incorporated initially in 1992 as PETRONAS Maritime Services Sdn. Bhd. (PMSSB), the company was rebranded as MMS when it became part of the MISC Group in 2015. The principal businesses of the MISC Group comprise energy shipping and its related activities, owning and operating offshore floating solutions, marine repair and conversion, engineering and construction works, integrated marine services, port management and maritime services as well as maritime education and training. MISC is currently one of the largest single owner-operators of LNG carriers in the world and had recently ventured into the emerging sectors of LNG bunkering vessels (LBV), and very large ethane carriers (VLECs).

STSM, which is based in UK, is a world leading ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore service provider with more than 30 years' experience in crude oil, refined petroleum, LNG and LPG transfers. Their specialised mooring masters deploy their worldwide services across 26 global locations and it offers full operational and technical support for ship to ship/shore operations, terminal management, and project consultancy. Their services comprise LNG STS full-service provision, LNG terminal management, Emergency STS response and planning, STS procedural development and STS equipment procurement.

Commenting on the latest development, Straits Group Managing Director Dato Sri Ron Ho Kam Choy said: "We are certainly very excited on this new STS transhipment hub as it is a landmark milestone for Straits Group. Straits has over the years diligently established its comprehensive infrastructure and widened its customer base and this STS hub will kickstart Straits' foray into the Sustainable and Alternative Energy space. With this project as a start, Straits aims to be a major player in the Sustainable and Alternative Energy industry in addition to its current fuel bunkering and port operation business.

The STS transfer hub project will connect Labuan into the global energy grid by creating a transhipment infrastructure to access the maritime energy trade network. Our main focus is to collaborate with specialist industry partners like MMS and STSM to establish Victoria Bay Port as a major LNG and LPG energy transhipment hub. We are confident we are able to serve the needs of the major global shipping lines customers with our wide spectrum of energy related maritime solutions.

On top of that, this STS hub will be a new local economic driver with huge and substantial spillover effect to the local maritime services as well as employment opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled labour. It will also be a catalyst to other related business in the Malaysia Maritime sector. The Company will be preserving the environment, with plans to establish an articial reef designed for sustainable fishing and to conduct coral conservation and water monitoring programmes to help the reefs of Labuan recover from the past blast and cyanide fishing which has caused fish stocks to deplete rapidly."

To have a video insight on the operations of the Victoria Labuan STS hub, please click on this link: https://youtu.be/aRdXXYZfFu4

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

IMC Ventures Partners with PIER71 to Invest and Nurture the Maritime and Supply Chain Ecosystem in Singapore

Singapore, Jun 18, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – IMC Ventures ("IMC Ventures"), a Singapore-based venture capital firm focused on investments in the maritime and supply chain industries, is pleased to announce that it has joined PIER71 as a venture capital partner with an objective to invest and nurture the maritime and supply chain ecosystem in Singapore.

With a vision to establish Singapore as a vibrant maritime ecosystem spearheading world-class innovation, the founding partners of PIER71 are Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore ("MPA") and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore ("NUS").

Bringing together a community of stakeholders who are keen to digitalise and create the next wave of maritime innovation, PIER71 designs and delivers programmes to uncover opportunities within the maritime industry by providing access to markets, demand drivers, technology solution providers, investors and more.

With an aim to create a positive environmental and social impact via investments in the maritime & logistics industries, IMC Ventures was established by IMC Industrial Group ("IMCIG") to focus on creating sustainable returns and operational synergies between start-ups and IMCIG's business units by enabling these start-ups to scale through access to its network of customers, infrastructure and resources.

IMC Industrial Group (IMCIG) is a leading integrated industrial company providing logistics, shipping, shipyard management and engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) services to our customers while creating long-term value for our shareholders.

"The ethos of PIER71 is every much aligned with IMC Ventures. We are looking to catalyse the start- up scene in Singapore by not just providing capital to enable these new innovative ventures to scale, but also to value add through synergies with our operating businesses in the maritime and logistic space," said Mr. James Ong, Investment Committee Member of IMC Ventures.

With this partnership, there are significant opportunities for the start-ups under PIER71 to leverage on IMC Ventures' in-depth market experience, specialised technical knowledge and vast industry networks to test-bed and deploy their ideas and innovations within the global maritime and supply chain ecosystem.

In addition, IMC Ventures will be exploring investments within PIER71's network and to initiate more cooperation and collaboration efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of market- disrupting solutions. This will be a boost for more improvements and enhancements within the maritime and supply chain ecosystem as a whole, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the environment and communities as a whole.

Mr. Thomas Ting, Chief Technology Officer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said: "We are heartened by the partnership of like-minded ecosystem players like IMC Ventures with PIER71 and MPA. As we grow Singapore to become a leading hub for marinetech (maritime technology) start- ups, investments from private sector will be key.

In particular, venture capitalists with deep maritime expertise will be highly beneficial to the entire innovation ecosystem. I'm confident that IMC Ventures will bring their deep industry knowledge and networks to help marinetech start-ups commercialise and scale."

Mr. Ryan Chan, Group Managing Director of IMC Industrial Group added: "IMC Ventures adds value to IMCIG as it allows ownership in ventures that brings value to our business and opens up possible opportunities to collaborate in setting the direction of innovative ideas in start-ups for various new technologies we are exploring. We will offer the capabilities and access to our shipping platform as partners to the right candidates.

With IMC Ventures partnering with MPA and PIER71, we are further building on the close partnership between IMC and MPA, to reaffirm our commitment to the future success and development of Singapore's maritime hub."

About IMC Ventures

With an aim to create a positive environmental and social impact via investments in the maritime & logistics industries, IMC Ventures was established by IMC Industrial Group ("IMCIG") to focus on creating sustainable returns and operational synergies between startups and IMCIG's business units by enabling these startups scale through access to its network of customers, infrastructure and resources.

IMCIG is part of Singapore-headquartered IMC Pan Asia Alliance Group which is actively invested in a diverse portfolio of investments covering shipping, ports, resources, real estate, investment management and lifestyle industries across the globe. With a business heritage dating back to early 1900s involving shipping and transportation activities, IMC Pan Asia Alliance Group has evolved across the decades and it currently employs more than 9,000 people in 15 countries with major presence in China, Indonesia and Thailand.

Issued on behalf of IMC Ventures by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.
Media Contact:
Mr. Alex TAN
Mobile: +65 9451 5252
Email: alex.tan@8prasia.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Wintermar wins 5-year contract for 2 OSVs supporting Indonesian Oilfield

JAKARTA, May 25, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Wintermar group has been awarded a 5 year contract to provide 2 Offshore Support Vessels for a multinational oil and gas company in Indonesia.

Wintermar will supply 2 units of Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels to support production off the northern coast of East Java for a period of 5 years. The vessels will support an FPSO (Floating Production Storage Offtake) unit in a producing field. The total contract value of the contract for this project amounts to US$ 22 Million.

"We are pleased to have been selected to support this project by a leading multinational oil and gas company. This affirms our clients' recognition of Wintermar's committed efforts to ensure high standards of quality, health and safety," said Sugiman Layanto, Managing Director of PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk. "This long term contract underlines the Indonesian government commitment to invest heavily to raise the country's output of oil and gas after some years of decline. Wintermar as the leader in the domestic offshore vessel industry is ready to play our role."

As at 24 May 2021, the Company's contracts on hand amount to USD 76.7 million.

–Building growth and sustainability for the coming recovery

As the oil industry is recovering globally, there are more projects being reactivated again. The Management has been studying some potential projects to position for a recovery. During the past two years, the Company has sold many older vessels and reduced gearing to 31% by end December 2020. Overhead costs have been significantly reduced and the company has a strong commitment to sustainability.

–Commitment to Seafarers' wellbeing

Wintermar has also signed our commitment to the Neptune Declaration on Seafarers Wellbeing and Crew change. Recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of disruption and impacted thousands of crew around the world, signatories to the Neptune Declaration recognize that seafarers are key workers pledges to pursue best practices for health protocols, speed up access to vaccinations and collaborate to do what is necessary to protect seafarers and expedite crew change. More information can be read here: https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/content/2020/12/The-Neptune-Declaration-on-Seafarer-Wellbeing-and-Crew-Change.pdf

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by an experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor Relations
PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel +62-21 530 5201
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Reports 1Q2021 Results

JAKARTA, May 10, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Wintermar Offshore Marine (WINS:JK) has announced results for 1Q2021. Wintermar is back in the black with net profit before tax of US$0.2 million, after three quarters of net losses.

Business conditions have improved in 1Q2021 since the worst of the pandemic in 2020. Utilization still remains below the level achieved in 1Q2020, but the trend is positive. Total revenue of US$10.2 million recorded in 1Q2021 is still 21% below the level of US$12.9 million achieved in 1Q2020. Despite this, the Company was able attain a positive contribution at the gross profit, operating profit and also at the comprehensive net profit level for 1Q2021 due to cost control measures taken in 2020.

–Owned Vessel Division

Owned Vessel Revenue for 1Q2021 was 16% YOY lower at US$8.35 million as utilization remains at 61% compared to 69% in 1Q2020. There was a delay in the commencement of operations for a large project in Indonesia due to repairs needed on the rig which caused some committed vessels to be idle. However, due to a 29% YOY reduction in direct costs, the Owned Vessel division showed a YOY jump of 170% in Gross Profit of US$1.8 million compared to US$0.7 million in 1Q2020.

Maintenance costs fell significantly by 39% YOY to US$0.5 million, as there was less work compared to 1Q2020 when several vessels were being prepared for work. Crew and operating costs both reduced by 16% YOY as a result of fewer vessels after the sale of 5 vessels in 2020. Depreciation was also significantly lower as a result of a smaller fleet, asset impairment of US$4.5 million taken in 2020 and an adjustment in useful life of assets. Fuel bunker however, rose by 74% YOY to US$0.2 million due to a new wet contract in 2021.

–Chartering and Other Services

Chartering revenues of US$1.5 million for 1Q2021 recorded a 36% YOY decline while Revenues from Other Services fell by 45% YOY to US$0.4 million as these segments which were badly affected by the pandemic have not yet recovered. Both business segments continued to contribute gross profit of US$0.36 million in total for 1Q2021 compared to US$0.62 million in 1Q2020.

–Indirect Expenses and Operating Loss

The cost efficiency measures involving sale of vessels and a reduction in shore employees, plus the voluntary salary reductions taken by senior staff led to a 21% YOY fall in Indirect Expenses to US$1.2 million in 1Q2021 from US$1.5 million. Although the hiring freeze was lifted and the Company took on new employees in 2021, total salary costs were still 26% YOY lower at US$0.08 million. Administration, utility and travel costs were also 35%, 26% and 72% lower respectively on a YOY basis, as employees continued to work from home for most of the first quarter in line with higher COVID-19 precautions in Jakarta. Marketing costs in 1Q2021 rose by 159% compared to the previous year due to bid bond costs as the Company participated in several tenders. These increased costs reflect the more positive mood in the industry as more tenders are being issued in 2021 as compared to the negative environment a year ago.

For 1Q2021, the Company recorded an Operating Profit of US$0.95 million compared to an Operating Loss of US$0.23 million in the same period last year.

–Other Income, Expenses and Net Attributable profit

Interest expenses continued to reduce by 23% to US$0.7 million as debt levels decline. Associated companies reversed losses to turn in a small profit compared to losses the previous year. There were no vessel sales in the period under review whereas in the previous year the Company booked a profit of US$1 million from vessel sales. Total other expenses amounted to US$0.7 million for 1Q2021, compared to income of US$0.4 million a year before.

The Company recorded US$0.2 million in Net Income Before Tax for 1Q2021, nearly the same as the previous year. After tax expenses and minority interests, there was a Net Loss Attributable to Shareholders of US$0.3 million whereas the Company made a small profit in the same period last year.

EBITDA for 1Q2021 US$4.3 million, 16% lower compared to 1Q2020, but higher than the each of the preceding three quarters.

–Oil & Gas Industry

2021 has brought fresh optimism around the world as most major countries have been actively vaccinating their populations, resulting in more traffic and the opening up of some sectors of the economy. The new variants and alarming escalation of infections in India demonstrate that the recovery will not be smooth, but economic data around the world has turned more positive.

–Offshore Vessels

Similarly, there has been a turnaround of sentiment in the oil and gas industry, with most predictions showing a bottom in 2020-2021 and anticipating higher investment along with a stabilizing oil price above US$50/barrel. This has also been reflected in the Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) market which has seen increased transactions of second hand vessels since the start of the year.

There are more tenders in 2021 compared to last year, although charter rates in the region have not yet risen as much as in the North Sea. The highest tendering activity has been in Malaysia and Brunei, while Indonesia has lagged.

–Strategy and Outlook

There is now more optimism in the OSV industry. Apart from participating in more tenders, the stronger balance sheet with the successful rescheduling of debt to longer maturities gives the Company room to consider new investments.

2021 marks the 50th year of operations of the Wintermar Group and the start of a leaner fleet, the achievement of the Company's professed target since its public listing 10 years ago. The push towards more efficiency is continuing, as the Company has embarked on a project to use technology to improve crew management and reporting.

The pandemic has accelerated the Company's use of technology and one positive impact is the stepping up of crew and staff training via video, while zoom meetings have actually increased the number of management interactions with vessel crew which in the past was limited to on physical visits on board. Crew development and training will continue to be a big area of emphasis as one of the Company's sustainability strategies.

The debt equity ratio of the group is now 33% and there will be room to invest in the coming months should there be attractive opportunities.

Contracts on hand as at end March 2021 amount to US$64.8 million.

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by an experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.

Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor Relations
PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel +62-21 530 5201 Ext 401
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Reports FY2020 Results

JAKARTA, Apr 26, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Wintermar Offshore Marine (WINS:JK) has reported results for the full FY2020, achieving a gross profit of US$1.1 million, turning around from a gross loss of US$1.27 mil in FY2019, as utilization rose to 66% in Q42020. The rise in vessel utilization provided a boost to revenue of US$11.9 million for 4Q2020, and brought the Company back to a gross profit for the full FY2020.

A strong 4th quarter saw high tier vessel utilization reach 77% as several drilling projects commenced. Although revenue for FY2020 was 23% lower than FY2019, the significant cost control measures in the past year brought total direct expenses down by 26% YOY.

–Owned Vessel Division

As oil prices stablilised, there was a recovery in drilling activity in 4Q2020, particularly benefitting the high tier fleet which saw utilization jump to 77% for the final quarter. This boosted Owned Vessel revenues by 24.4% QOQ to US$9.1million in 4Q2020.

Overall fleet utilization for FY2020 was 63% which was similar to FY2019. Total Owned Vessel revenue for FY2020 was US$33.8 million, a YOY decline of 18% compared to FY2019. However, the fleet streamlining and cost control measures implemented by management for the past year have borne fruit as reflected in a 23% decline in Owned vessel direct expenses at US$ 34.0 million. Vessel sales over the past year and asset impairment contributed to lower depreciation of US$14.8 million in FY2020 compared to US$23.4 million in FY2019. Crew costs were 10% lower YOY at US$9.0 million while fuel costs fell 22% YOY to US$2.3 million. Operational costs, however, increased 21% YOY to US$4.9 million primarily due to COVID-19 related costs and mooring costs when the vessel is idle.

–Chartering and Other Services

Chartering activity was affected by COVID-19 and revenue for this division declined by 34% to US$7.4 million. Gross Profit from Chartering fell to US$0.7 million for FY2020 compared to US$1.2 million in FY2019.

–Indirect Expenses and Operating Loss

Indirect Expenses declined by 23% YOY to US$5.8 million for FY2020, largely contributed by a lower headcount of 141 at the end of December 2020 compared to 172 staff the year before, and a voluntary salary reduction led by the Directors of the Company and supported by the participation of all employees to help the Company through the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff salary was 20% YOY lower at US$3.6 million compared to US$4.5 million in the previous year. Other reductions were seen in Professional fees which fell by 38% to US$0.4 million, marketing and travelling which fell by 68% and 54% respectively due to the travel restrictions imposed for COVID-19. Office depreciation fell by 53% to US$0.14 million as certain equipment was fully depreciated.

The Operating Loss nearly halved to US$4.7 million for FY2020 compared to US$8.8 million in FY2019.

–Other Income, Expenses and Net Attributable profit

As the Company has reduced overall bank debt by US$8.5 million to US$46.1 million by end of December 2020, the interest expenses saw a sharp decline of 26% YOY to US$3.5 million. However, this was offset by a loss from equity in associates of US$1.6 million for the year compared to a profit of US$1 million in FY2019. Profit from sale of fixed assets was US$1 million, arising from the sale of 5 vessels and a building in 2020. This was lower than the profit of US$2.2 million from the sale of 5 vessels in FY2019.

Net loss attributable to shareholders narrowed by 7.4% to US$12.3 million for FY2020, compared to a net loss of US$13.3 million in FY2019.

EBITDA for FY2020 was US$10.3 million, compared to US$14.9 million booked in FY2019.

–Oil & Gas Industry

COVID-19's disruptive effect on the world in 2020 caused an unprecedented impact on oil demand. Traffic literally came to a standstill in 2Q2020 when most countries restricted travel and movement to stop the transmission of COVID19. As a result, there was demand destruction of 9.9 million bpd of oil in 2020, or about 10% of global output, causing inventory buildup and dampening oil prices.

Investment in upstream oil and gas, which had already seen a multi-year decline, continued to fall further by 20%, in 2020 as seen in the above chart.

Now that most major countries are targeting to reach a 50% vaccination rate by end of 2021, oil demand has picked up as economies started to open up in 2H2020. The global economic recovery resulted in most of the crude oil inventory being drawn down, bringing a balance to the supply and demand for oil again. Oil prices are expected to trend higher as oil demand will benefit from economic recovery in many major world economies in 2H2021 and 2022.

–Offshore Vessels

COVID-19's disruptive effect on the world in 2020 caused an unprecedented impact to oil demand. Traffic literally came to a standstill in 2Q2020 when most countries restricted travel and movement to stop the transmission of COVID-19. As a result, there was demand destruction of 9.9 million bpd of oil in 2020, or about 10% of global output, causing inventory buildup and dampening oil prices.

Investment in upstream oil and gas, which had already seen a multi-year decline, continued to fall further by 20%, in 2020 as seen in the above chart.

Now that most major countries are targeting to reach a 50% vaccination rate by end of 2021, oil demand has picked up as economies started to open up in 2H2020. The global economic recovery resulted in most of the crude oil inventory being drawn down, bringing a balance to the supply and demand for oil again. Oil prices are expected to trend higher as oil demand will benefit from economic recovery in many major world economies in 2H2021 and 2022.

–Offshore Vessels

Last year at this time, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the seeds of optimism in the offshore vessel industry and caused suspension and even terminations in drilling projects. As the outlook for oil prices improves, the demand for offshore vessels is also starting to recover, with more tenders and projects in the pipeline. Rystad Energy is projecting a recovery in offshore capex starting in 2022 as seen in the chart below. This would bode well for the OSV industry which is starting to benefit from more work, albeit still relatively short term. With stronger oil prices, there is already a recovery in offshore drilling so far in 2021 with more demand for higher tier vessels in various markets. Some high tier vessels which had been seized by banks are being transacted in the first quarter of 2021, signalling optimism in the OSV industry after many years of downturn.

–Strategy and Outlook

There are more signs of OSV industry recovery, not just due to a turnaround in the oil and gas sector, but also due to increased investment in offshore windfarms. There have been several drilling projects due to start in Indonesia which were delayed due to various factors like rig repair or inability to secure suitable vessels, proving that specific vessel segments are already seeing good demand. Although 2021 is likely to see some volatility and charter rates are still low, the trend for OSV demand looks positive. Management is optimistic that 2022 will be a better year and are positioning to tender for contracts in several markets. The Company has also started to work in the offshore wind industry for the first time with a short contract to transport monopiles for wind turbine construction.

The streamlining of the Company's fleet by selling out of low tier vessels has led to a lower cost structure as the focus is now on mid and high tier vessels which comprise 73% and 22% of our fleet at the end of 2020. Other initiatives to digitalise our internal HR and Logistics procedures through digital processes were accelerated by the pandemic last year. This has already resulted in operational efficiencies and a reduction of paper use, and lower travelling costs as virtual meetings and vessel inspections became the new normal.

After paying down US$8.5 million of debt over the past year, the Company ends 2020 with a healthy balance sheet with low net debt/equity of 35%. Management has successfully negotiated to extend loan maturities until 2025, which provides a comfortable cash flow profile for the coming years. With the emphasis on keeping up the quality of services and fleet, Wintermar is poised to take a strong position in the coming industry recovery.

Contracts on hand as of the end of February 2021 amount to US$66 million.

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by an experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.

Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor Relations
PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel +62-21 530 5201 Ext 401
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com