Meet Managing Director, Martin Kärrhage

In his role as Managing Director, Martin Kärrhage holds ultimate responsibility for TransProCon – and to do the best job possible, he prefers to stay close to the business.

”I have been with the company since 2016 and became Managing Director the following year. Before that, I worked as a shipbroker, focusing on sale and purchase, and chartering, of RoRo ships and ferries. But at my core, I am a seaman and Master Mariner by education. I like to stay close to the business, and since we are a relatively small organization, it comes naturally. I have a multifaceted team around me, where employees can handle a variety of tasks. That applies to me as well. I want to not only lead the company; I also want to be hands-on and involved in much of the daily work. This might include chartering vessels, negotiating and preparing contracts, as well as communicating on a daily basis with clients and suppliers.

TransProCon is the market leader in both project cargo and defense logistics. We also work with external chartering, where we are mainly assisting WALLENIUS SOL charter ships in and out. When it comes to defense logistics, both client interactions and assignments look different compared to the commercial sector. Often, we are recommended by other clients, and at this point, we have built an impressive list of countries we have done business with. We have framework agreements with a couple of nations for sea lift operations and multimodal transports. The Netherlands is a major client in defense logistics, M/V NEW AMSTERDAM being a crucial piece of the puzzle for us. It is a multi-purpose RoRo cargo with strengthened stern ramp and side ramp as well as a crane. The vessel is put under Dutch flag and is on a long-term charter to the Dutch Ministry of Defence. 

The needs of our military clients differ from those of commercial shipping – there are often stricter requirements for precise loading and unloading times – and it is essential to understand and respect that the customer is not a commercial entity. We need to share knowledge and experience, which is usually highly appreciated. Sometimes, we even hold lectures on the shipping market. At the same time, we must build our own knowledge base regarding cargo specifics, securing methods, and so on.

In general, the RoRo market has changed in character due to consolidation in the shipping industry and because more vessels are tied up in liner traffic. A major challenge for us is allocating the right tonnage, and newer RoRo vessels are often too large for our clients. This means we work even more closely with shipowners to build trust and find the tonnage we need. We must collaborate and know exactly who we are dealing with, especially in defense logistics, where there are specific requirements regarding crew, classification, and flagging. As soon as a procurement process is underway, we notify the shipowners we work with, and then we must ensure we deliver on our promises.

We aim to be close to our customers. They should always know exactly who to contact in our office – never having to wonder or to be passed around – and we are usually present during loading and unloading, either ourselves or through a representative. We build relationships and get to know our customers and their needs. Personally, I have a deep interest in ships, especially RoRo vessels. It’s always exciting to board a ship, meet the crew, discuss the operations with the Captain or Chief Officer, and get feedback from their voyages – what went well, what could be improved. A RoRo vessel was once my workplace, and it’s incredibly satisfying to be there when we execute a shipment. When we successfully complete a mission despite a tricky quay, or when a carefully prepared plan works seamlessly… well, that’s an amazing feeling.”