History of Misje Shipping Company

Kåre Misje grew up in a coastal area called Misje in the western side of Norway. Here the main industry had close links to the maritime sector and the transport of commodities along the coastal ports within the whole of Europe. Obviously Kåre Misje experienced the tradition from early on, and became a successful and well-known sailor. Due to extremely hard work over long periods, Kåre’s eyesight became weak and it was not possible to continue the workday as a captain. Due to this incident Kåre Misje made an agreement with L Andre Winciansen to buy 50% of his broker company. The deal was settled and completed the 15. October 1955.

The start for Kåre Misje as a broker was complicated and rough, as his partner and teacher L Andre Winciansen got incurable cancer. Alone with 8 – 10 ship Kåre Misje managed to get control over the fleet, arrange cargo as well as maintaining the contracts. Due to the great amounts of work, Kåre established an agreement with Rolf Wagle where the management of the fleet was divided in two. Misje was in charge of the cargo from West-Norway, while Wagle was in charge of the cargo from East-Norway. One year after the agreement was entered Mrs Winciansen died; according to the terms of the contract Kåre Misje would acquire the remaining 50% of the company. Furthermore, Kåre Misje agreed that his dad Johannes Misje would enter and purchase 1/3 of the company. The name was changed to Kåre Misje & Co.

In the time after the World War 2, the industry experienced good hunting seasons for herring and it was natural for Kåre Misje to become a herring-broker. During the period of establishment, Kåre Misje obtained transportation contracts with both Sildesalslaget and Sildesalternes foreninger in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. After several seasons with overwhelming success the fishing results became marginal and Kåre Misje had to look for new opportunities and sectors.

The solution was to enter the weather and rescue vessel market in the North Sea. Kåre Misje & Co became responsible for the vessels involved in the safety-agreement in the North Sea between Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Great Britain. The project resulted in great success; the yearly season was extended and the fleet was frequently updated.

As Kåre Misje & Co became established in the weather & rescue segment, they also achieved a greater market share in the rising herring-market as new hunting methods were presented and the vessel price was fairly low. As a result the company invested in several vessels and entered long time charters with different players in the market. Due to decline in the herring-market again in 1968, the fleet was strategically pulled out of the sector and ended the first phase of Kåre Misje & Co.

With a great diversity of experience within several segments, Kåre Misje followed the natural path when entering the oil-market. The optimism in the market was great, and the fleet of Kåre Misje & Co established a solid foundation for the main oil activity. The weather and rescue vessels constituted great importance in the development of Ekofisk. Furthermore, after accurate planning and good performance, Kåre Misje & Co managed to enter the international weather forecast system with a timecharter to the government of Norway. As a result of this Kåre Misje & Co owned the first and only private weathership throughout the world.

The next step for Kåre Misje & Co was to enter the standby service within the oil-industry. The niche was quite small, but over time it became very important for the respective security measures of the Norwegian continental shelf. Kåre Misje appeared as a pioneer with new ideas and guidance when both the government and oil-companies were puzzled. Kåre Misje & Co owned and operated the first standby vessel in the North Sea. As the industry expanded and grew, the demand for Misje’s services and fleet rapidly increased. The involvement in the oil segment seemed to become a great success.

Kåre Misje & Co operated within two main areas; the weather & rescue service, and the standby service. As the security measures and regulations were updated over time, Kåre Misje had to convert some of his fishing fleet into permanent standby vessels at the oil rigs in the Norwegian continental shelf. As a result of the rapidly increased demand, Kåre Misje & Co owned a fleet of 8 standby vessels in 1973. In 1976 the total number of standby vessels in the North Sea was 14, all mediated by Kåre Misje.

As the fleet grew steadily, it seemed natural for Kåre Misje & Co to start a mechanical workshop, mainly in charge of small mending’s and other related work. In 1970 the enterprise was enlarged with the new branch Sotra Sandblåsing AS. Misje Mek Verksted continued their business, and was later relocated to Nordre Haugland at Askøy in 1976. After the explosion and fire that occurred 1.november 1975, a new regulation was amended, including a set of new requirements for standby vessels. Kåre Misje started the preparation of developing and upgrading the existing standby fleet, fully adapted to the new set of requirements. The result was overwhelming, both the upgraded M/V Famito and M/V Imo represented the new era of standby service.

Until 1979 Kåre Misje & Co was the only broker and supplier of standby vessels to the offshore industry. As the boom continued, several shipowners wanted to join Misje and his offshore service. The group of shipowners and shipping companies was marketed as Misje Gruppen. As the fleet continued to grow, Kåre Misje felt it was very important to satisfy the workforce and implemented a new working condition; 1 month work, 1 month vacation. The office in C. Sundtsgate was also expanding; in 1981 Kåre Misje & Co consisted of 10 employees, operating within brokering, chartering and technical assistance. At the end of 1981 Kåre Misje & Co managed 6 modern standby vessels, and through Misje Gruppen a total of 20 standby vessels. In 1982 Misje Offshore Marine AS was established.

The period of 1981 to 1986 represents the culmination of Kåre Misje & Co. The fleet consisted of 25 vessels and a workforce of 350 employees. The company appeared as a pioneer and controlled over 50% of the standby vessels operating on the Norwegian continental shelf. During this period Kåre Misje & Co expanded their business and established a company in Aberdeen, named Nomis Ltd. As the British market accepted the new entrance, the main fleet was re-flagged and employed on British shelf. Kåre Misje & Co was left with M/V Rongos operating on the Norwegian shelf.

The period of 1987 to 1988 represented a severe decline in the offshore sector. Kåre Misje & Co reduced their services and fleets both on the Norwegian and British shelf. Furthermore, reorganisation of the company resulted in a shut down of both the standby service and Misje Mek Verksted.

With the weather service maintained, Kåre Misje & Co started to explore a possible entrance in the new modern general cargo market. From 1994 the company had managed to establish a solid shipping company. Through close relations with the Irish company Arklow Shipping, Kåre Misje & Co has purchased several vessels from their operating fleet.

Bergenhus AS was established in 1999 through a co-operation amongst Kåre Misje, Arne Vik and Helge Stokke. The company started to expand rapidly and purchased 3 ro-ro pallet vessels within the first year. The line-segment provided the company with stable and predictable income.

In 2000 Kåre Misje & Co made a comeback in the shipping environment of Bergen with 8 vessels. Reorganising the company structure and hiring qualified and experienced personnel was a time consuming process. Kåre Misje & Co was renamed Misje Rederi AS. The boon of the bulk market in 2004 made it natural to establish Misje Bulk AS. Within the next three years, the company owned a fleet of 10 general cargo vessels.

Today there is a total of 6 companies; Kåre Misje & Co, Misje Rederi AS, Polarfront AS, AMI AS, Bergenhus AS and Misje Bulk AS. The operating fleet consist of 13 ships in total.

Last update: 08.01.2009, 17:56