VIKING OPENS TURKISH SUBSIDIARY

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment Istanbul Denizcilik Tic AS is the somewhat lengthy name of VIKING’s new subsidiary in Turkey that was opened in a ceremony on October 14, 2009 attended by high-ranking officials including Sub governor of the Tuzla district, Mr. Mumin Heybet, the Danish Ambassador to Turkey, HE. Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, the Turkish Prime Ministry’s Under Secretariat for Maritime Affairs, General Manager of Ship building and Shipyards, Mr. Yasar Duran Aytac, Under Secretariat for Maritime Affairs, Director of the Istanbul district, Mr. Cemalettin Sevli, and Chairman of Ship Builders Association Mr. Murat Bayrak. Also in attendance was VIKING CEO Kjeld Amann along with members of VIKING’s Board of Directors.

With its name shortened to VIKING Istanbul in everyday use, the subsidiary is jointly owned by VIKING and Mr. Yasin Kasa, the director of the present station at Orhanli, Tuzla. VIKING Istanbul is strategically located at Orhanli to handle the ports of Ambarli, Karaköy and Izmit Bay, as well as shipyards in the Tuzla, Yalova and Izmit areas.

In fact, the new subsidiary has been performing a variety of operations since May 2008, helping to safeguard the lives of Istanbul and Canakkale citizens onboard both ferryboats and sea buses. Today, the boats of IDO and Gestas, for example, carry over 300 VIKING liferafts. In addition, approximately 80% of the mega yachts in Antalya and Tuzla are equipped with VIKING safety products.

VIKING Istanbul also participates in tenders for the Turkish navy, land and air forces as well as municipalities. Such tenders call for pyrotechnics, liferafts, life-saving equipment, food rations and drinking water packs for liferafts and lifeboats, inflatable bullet-proof lifejackets, air pilot suits and the like.

CEO Kjeld Amann’s attendance acknowledges the importance of the Turkish ports for VIKING’s global network, where the company is acting as safety consultant for ship-owners, listening, advising and gathering data on key issues. VIKING Istanbul also has a role to play in keeping its customers informed and in bringing new products to Turkey to keep pace with emerging international regulatory measures.

Kjeld Amann stresses the necessity of challenging uncertified equipment in the Turkish market. “Equipment like this can be both unsafe and, in the longer term, costly. We’re proud to be able to serve our customers in Turkey with best-in-class marine safety solutions that have been specified and serviced according to VIKING’s strict criteria.”