Wallem Group is observing 100 years since moving its headquarters to Hong Kong, a milestone marked by a commemorative event on 12 November 2025.
The celebration will feature the Hong Kong Finance Secretary as Guest of Honour, highlighting a century since the relocation of Wallem & Co., originally established by Norwegian shipbroker Haakon Wallem in 1903.
By 1925, Haakon earned the nickname 'Typhoon Wallem' due to his energetic support of Chinese shipowners and his adept business strategies.
Wallem's Hong Kong legacy
Over a hundred years, Wallem has navigated through global challenges including wars
Over a hundred years, Wallem has navigated through global challenges including wars, economic downturns, and environmental emergencies.
Despite global upheavals, Hong Kong has consistently been Wallem's headquarters, adapting through shifts in trade, containerisation, and globalisation.
The city, hosting the fourth largest ship registry and a top ten container port, has recently introduced a favourable maritime tax policy.
Commitment to Hong Kong's maritime hub
"Wallem's enduring commitment to Hong Kong reflects its crucial role as a hub for international shipping and as a centre of gravity for ship management," states John Rowley, CEO of Wallem Group.
He notes the availability of talent in Hong Kong, crucial for implementing their strategy centred on sustainable growth and client-focused business opportunities.
Ownership and vision
In Wallem's recent history since 2006, ownership has been under Tom Steckmest, Haakon Wallem's great-grandson, and Nigel Hill, current Chairman. The leadership duo maintains a focus on establishing a high-quality ship management group with an expanding client base.
Nigel Hill remarks, "Wallem sees ship management as a personalised service, ensuring each vessel complies with the highest standards of safety and sustainability, while remaining cost-effective."
Ship management services
Wallem's approach to ship management underscores collaboration with shipowners
Wallem's approach to ship management underscores collaboration with shipowners, leveraging Wallem's management and technical expertise.
Maintaining independence is viewed as crucial to future success, with Hong Kong remaining the operational base.
Support for their core service comes from divisions focusing on Agency, Marine services, Crewing, IT, and Commercial, with an emphasis on safety and seafarer welfare.
Honouring maritime heritage
To further celebrate its rich maritime history, Wallem has released an updated edition of 'Typhoon Wallem', the historical account originally published in 2003.
This edition integrates new research by maritime historian, Stephanie Zarach, offering insights into the challenges and transformations experienced by Wallem over the years.
Wallem Group, a major global maritime partner, is celebrating the centenary of moving its headquarters to Hong Kong.
The celebrations will be marked by a special event on 12 November 2025 in the presence of Guest of Honour Hong Kong Finance Secretary, commemorating 100 years since the relocation – 22 years after Norwegian shipbroker and agent Haakon Wallem formed Wallem & Co. in 1903.
By 1925, Haakon had earned the nickname ‘Typhoon Wallem’, reflecting his energy and business acumen and his deployment of both to support Chinese shipowners.
Wallem’s home
In the 100 years since, shipping has been buffeted by wars, piracy, economic crises, terrorism, environmental and safety emergencies, and adapted to new regulatory agendas, digital revolutions, and a global pandemic.
Hong Kong has remained Wallem’s home throughout, during a century of radically changing trade patterns, containerisation and globalisation. Home, too, to the world’s fourth largest ship register and a top ten global container port, Hong Kong recently benefited from a new favourable maritime tax regime.
Enduring commitment to Hong
“Wallem’s enduring commitment to Hong Kong reflects the critical role it plays as a hub for international shipping and the global centre of gravity for ship management itself,” says John Rowley, CEO, Wallem Group.
He adds, “It also offers a deep pool of talent to drive success across every aspect of our activities as we look ahead with confidence based on a strategy for sustainable growth that places clients and the business opportunities they seek at its heart.”
Since 2006, Wallem has been owned by Tom Steckmest, great grandson of Haakon Wallem, and Nigel Hill, the current Chairman. Both emphasise that their goal was and is to develop the best ship management group in terms of quality and service with a growing client base to match.
Ship management
Nigel Hill comments: “Wallem sees ship management as a very personalised service, offered so that each vessel meets the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability whilst ensuring cost-effectiveness.”
He adds, “Achieving this requires an equal partnership with the shipowner to make the best use of Wallem’s management and technical expertise. Hong Kong is Wallem’s home, and we believe that Wallem’s independence remains the key to our ship management’s future success.”
Core ship management service
Wallem’s other divisions – Agency, Marine services, Crewing, IT and Commercial - support the core ship management service, and technology is required to do the same. Key emphases are always maintained on safety and the welfare of seafarers.
Further celebrating its maritime heritage, Wallem has published an updated edition of Typhoon Wallem, the history first released in 2003 to commemorate 100 years since the company’s foundation. Anthony Hardy’s original text has been combined with new chapters from maritime historian, Stephanie Zarach, detailing the challenges and changes that have occurred since.
