Synergy expands global footprint

India's Synergy Group is expanding its global footprint by adding 30-40 ships over the next two years to its 130-ship fleet and opening of new offices in China, Japan and Europe.
"Our plans include adding the management of 30 to 40 additional ships in 2017-18 and opening offices in China, Japan and Europe," said Synergy Group's chief executive officer Rajesh Unni, after addressing the 15th annual Marine Money Week Asia 2016 here.
"Although the shipping market has a negative sentiment, with falling freight rates, Synergy's forte is managing ships cost-effectively in today's business environment," Unni said.
Synergy, which has a strategic partnership with Tokyo- listed Mitsui OSK Line (MOL), is increasing training programmes for maritime professionals from its MOL-Synergy Learning Centre in Chennai.

"We have training and skilling programmes for maritime professionals, especially to work on chemical, oil and gas tankers," said Unni, adding that more and more maritime professionals from India were joining the group's ship management and services.
To date, more than 2,000 maritime professionals from India have been trained from the Chennai centre.

"We train and employ them within our group," he said.
Currently the group employs over 4000 employees globally.
Unni sees further expansion of the maritime professional training programmes within India.
Synergy plans to set up new centres at its offices in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Cochin, following on the model of centre of excellence in Chennai, he said.

The company is today part of the core group to drive rebuilding of villages in India as part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rural development programme.
Synergy currently operates offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Manila and Iloilo city of the Philippines.