New Year Greetings from ALMACO CEO, Björn Stenwall
As we approach the end of another year, it’s a time for reflection and anticipation. Our CEO and President, Björn Stenwall, shares his thoughts on the past year and his hopes for the future.
Text by Björn Stenwall, President and CEO at ALMACO Group.
Looking Back at 2024
First and foremost, I want to extend my thanks to our customers, employees, partners, and suppliers. Your dedication and hard work have been instrumental in our success. Together, we have built, modernized, and served some of the most innovative and sustainable passenger ships and offshore rigs in the world.
The past year has been a period of steady growth and stabilization in the maritime industry, despite the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, post-pandemic recovery, and new regulations.
Passenger booking rates and oil prices, key indicators for our sector, have continued to trend upward. The newbuilding, modernization, and lifecycle businesses have all experienced significant growth, and we expect this trend to continue into the new year.
Internal Changes and Strategic Focus at ALMACO
In 2024, we redefined our strategy and renamed our former Accommodation Systems division to the EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) Division. We welcomed Peter Melander as the new President of this division. Based in Florida, a key hub for the maritime and cruise industries, Peter’s presence will help us better serve our clients and meet the growing demand for conversions and modernization services.
What sets ALMACO apart is our ability to handle major projects and offer full turnkey solutions for all hotel areas onboard. We provide comprehensive services that cover every aspect of the project, from pre-development, design and engineering to construction, installation and full lifecycle services. This approach ensures that our clients can rely on holistic, smooth, and optimized project management with a full overview of the entire project, rather than spreading the responsibility across multiple providers who may not have the complete picture. Ultimately, our customers benefit from streamlined processes, on-time delivery, and enhanced operational efficiency tailored to their specific needs.
Our Deliveries in 2024
In 2024, we saw a significant increase in the number of projects. Our biggest deliveries included the first ship in the TT line series, Spirit of Tasmania, Ilma of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Silversea Ray of Silversea Cruises at MEYER WERFT, Adora Magic City at SWS, Icon of the Seas at MEYER TURKU, and Aroya Cruises in Bremerhaven. We’ve also completed a few confidential projects that must remain unnamed here. Additionally, we’ve established successful fleet maintenance partnerships with Brittany Ferries and Marella Cruises.
Focus on Digitalization and Sustainability
Looking ahead, we will continue to develop the tools and processes that enable us to deliver exceptional projects and lifecycle services. Digitalization and sustainability will be at the forefront of our efforts. Energy-saving solutions are more critical than ever given the recent energy price developments and the need for tracking running hours for to achieve well-planned maintenance cycles. We are also seeing increased demand for multifunctional layout designs that can be repurposed based on passenger needs.
Continuous lifecycle contracts, highly digitalized processes, and outsourcing of services are trends that more owners are adopting to maintain leaner organizations and scale operations efficiently.
An Opportunity for Improvement
As we enter a new era, it’s clear that the industry is evolving. The challenges we’ve faced have made us sharper and more reflective. I believe that difficult times often bring about positive change, enabling us to develop innovative solutions that we might not have considered otherwise.
With these thoughts, I wish you all a sustainable, inventive, and prosperous 2025!
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