History

1986

Sound
Tankers
1996

Panasia
Marine

2011

SPI
Marine

SPI Marine is the most experienced shipping services provider in the sensitive cargo supply chain, with over 1,800 years of combined knowledge from their dedicated team of industry experts. From humble beginnings here are the key milestones in our history:

1986
Mar
1
Sound Tanker Chartering Inc. (STCI) is founded

STCI is founded by Jeff Mavelli and his two colleagues from a NYC tanker brokerage, establishing an office located in South Norwalk, Connecticut. Later that same year STCI merges with Fleets Cove Chartering whose two brokers move from Long Island to STCI’s Connecticut offices. Tom Wimmer joined the company in 1987 and became a partner in 1996, Tom Robbins joined in 1991 and made partner in 2000, followed by Jason Siemer who joined in 1997 and became a partner in 2010.

1996
Sep
8
Panasia Marine Ltd is founded

With the support and encouragement of BP Chemicals, Panasia Marine Ltd is founded by the Ahrenkiel Group with Mike Kardel at the helm, based out of Hong Kong and with an office in Seoul.

1998
May
15
Panasia Marine relocates

As STCI joins the Asian partnership, the business becomes global and Panasia Marine relocates from Hong Kong to Singapore, which is starting to develop into Asia’s chemical shipping hub. Soon after, in 1999 Graeme Finley joins Panasia Marine.

2005
Feb
14
Panasia Marine expands into China

With the support of CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals (CSPC), the Shanghai office is opened in 2005 under Frank Chen’s leadership, diversifying quickly by establishing an agency division.

2006
Mar
11
Korea opens for business

To strengthen our operations and build on existing COAs between Korean Owners and Major Oil companies, Soonhee Kim is hired to re-establish a presence in Seoul.

Apr
4
Back in the USA

With business growing across the pond, STCI establishes its second US office, this time in Houston, Texas, which is rapidly becoming a hub for US charterers and owners.

2007
Jun
16
Middle East expansion

When the Group is awarded Oman Methanol Company’s business, Peter Wakely joins to open the office in Sohar, ahead of OMC’s start-up in 2007.

2011
Nov
6
Global rebranding

STCI and Panasia Marine merge in 2011 to form SPI Marine, handling a combined multi-million tonne volume per annum. The Group steps up investment into digital systems and technology and further expands its market research and intelligence remit.

2014
Jan
1
MPLA joint venture

In 2014 SPI Marine forms Manuport Logistics Asia (MPLA), a joint-venture with Manuport Logistics NV (Antwerp), to offer the full range of freight forwarding and logistics services, truly progressing beyond shipbroking! Operating from SPI’s Singapore office, MPLA specializes in bulk liquid transportation in drums, flexi-tanks and iso-tanks.

 

Apr
2
SPI opens Europe office

With its global vision, the SPI Group establishes a presence in Europe when Graeme Harness joins in 2014, opening the UK branch. In 2017, SPI Marine UK goes on to develop its logistics and commodity business – Liquid Commodity Solutions (LCS), complementing the existing core broking business in the UK. Further enabling SPI Marine to deliver end-to-end solutions, from broking, shipping through to storage, containers, road and rail transportation.

2021
May
6
SPI Marine expands into Switzerland

In 2021, SPI Marine opened an office in Nyon, Switzerland, further expanding its global network and presence. With Managing Director Jonathan Le Feuvre at the helm, the new office is key to further enhancing the Group’s client partnerships with majors and traders, and also acts as an important axis for the growth of SPI’s coverage in the specialised Projects-S&P sector.

2022
Apr
1
SPI Marine expands containerised services in the Netherlands

In April 2022, SPI Marine, the most experienced shipping services provider in the sensitive cargoes sector, appointed Alix Visser as Director of Containerised Freight Services, Netherlands, which sees the group continue to implement its growth strategy in Europe and beyond. Alix is key to enhancing the Group’s client service offer in the containers and logistics space.

1986
March 1, 1986
Sound Tanker Chartering Inc. (STCI) is founded

STCI is founded by Jeff Mavelli and his two colleagues from a NYC tanker brokerage, establishing an office located in South Norwalk, Connecticut. Later that same year STCI merges with Fleets Cove Chartering whose two brokers move from Long Island to STCI’s Connecticut offices. Tom Wimmer joined the company in 1987 and became a partner in 1996, Tom Robbins joined in 1991 and made partner in 2000, followed by Jason Siemer who joined in 1997 and became a partner in 2010.

1996
September 8, 1996
Panasia Marine Ltd is founded

With the support and encouragement of BP Chemicals, Panasia Marine Ltd is founded by the Ahrenkiel Group with Mike Kardel at the helm, based out of Hong Kong and with an office in Seoul.

1998
May 15, 1998
Panasia Marine relocates

As STCI joins the Asian partnership, the business becomes global and Panasia Marine relocates from Hong Kong to Singapore, which is starting to develop into Asia’s chemical shipping hub. Soon after, in 1999 Graeme Finley joins Panasia Marine.

2005
February 14, 2005
Panasia Marine expands into China

With the support of CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals (CSPC), the Shanghai office is opened in 2005 under Frank Chen’s leadership, diversifying quickly by establishing an agency division.

2006
March 11, 2006
Korea opens for business

To strengthen our operations and build on existing COAs between Korean Owners and Major Oil companies, Soonhee Kim is hired to re-establish a presence in Seoul.

April 4, 2006
Back in the USA

With business growing across the pond, STCI establishes its second US office, this time in Houston, Texas, which is rapidly becoming a hub for US charterers and owners.

2007
June 16, 2007
Middle East expansion

When the Group is awarded Oman Methanol Company’s business, Peter Wakely joins to open the office in Sohar, ahead of OMC’s start-up in 2007.

2011
November 6, 2011
Global rebranding

STCI and Panasia Marine merge in 2011 to form SPI Marine, handling a combined multi-million tonne volume per annum. The Group steps up investment into digital systems and technology and further expands its market research and intelligence remit.

2014
January 1, 2014
MPLA joint venture

In 2014 SPI Marine forms Manuport Logistics Asia (MPLA), a joint-venture with Manuport Logistics NV (Antwerp), to offer the full range of freight forwarding and logistics services, truly progressing beyond shipbroking! Operating from SPI’s Singapore office, MPLA specializes in bulk liquid transportation in drums, flexi-tanks and iso-tanks.

 

April 2, 2014
SPI opens Europe office

With its global vision, the SPI Group establishes a presence in Europe when Graeme Harness joins in 2014, opening the UK branch. In 2017, SPI Marine UK goes on to develop its logistics and commodity business – Liquid Commodity Solutions (LCS), complementing the existing core broking business in the UK. Further enabling SPI Marine to deliver end-to-end solutions, from broking, shipping through to storage, containers, road and rail transportation.

2021
May 6, 2021
SPI Marine expands into Switzerland

In 2021, SPI Marine opened an office in Nyon, Switzerland, further expanding its global network and presence. With Managing Director Jonathan Le Feuvre at the helm, the new office is key to further enhancing the Group’s client partnerships with majors and traders, and also acts as an important axis for the growth of SPI’s coverage in the specialised Projects-S&P sector.

2022
April 1, 2022
SPI Marine expands containerised services in the Netherlands

In April 2022, SPI Marine, the most experienced shipping services provider in the sensitive cargoes sector, appointed Alix Visser as Director of Containerised Freight Services, Netherlands, which sees the group continue to implement its growth strategy in Europe and beyond. Alix is key to enhancing the Group’s client service offer in the containers and logistics space.