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AdvertorialA new chapter for Harding Marine Services in RotterdamAn interview with Christopher Papachastas, General Manager of Poseidon GroupHarding Marine Services B.V., part of Poseidon Group, has recently relocated to a new facility within the Rotterdam port area, marking an important step in the group%u2019s continued development. According to Christopher Papachastas, General Manager of Poseidon Group, the move was driven by a simple objective: %u201cto support higher volumes while allowing us to maintain the same level of quality and reliability our customers expect.%u201d%u201cHarding%u2019s previous location supported the company%u2019s operations well for many years,%u201d he explains, %u201cbut following Poseidon Group%u2019s acquisition of Harding Marine Services in 2024, the company%u2019s operations expanded, along with the need for a larger facility.%u201dThe new premises, located in Hoogvliet in the heart of the port area, cover approximately 3,850 m%u00b2 and bring together under one roof fresh provisions and a wide range of dry goods, including tools, cabin stores, safety equipment and other technical items required on board.%u201cThis combination is fundamental to the way we operate,%u201d he explains. %u201cA vessel%u2019s requirements can range from fresh provisions to technical supplies and safety-related items, often within the same delivery window. Our aim has been to develop the Rotterdam hub so that it reflects the same capabilities as our headquarters in Piraeus,%u201d Mr. Papachastas says. Harding Marine Services supports a broad international client base, including a significant number of shipping companies of Greek interests. %u201cRotterdam is one of the most important ports in the world, therefore our presence here allows us to serve companies from across the global shipping community, which is something we value greatly.%u201dBeyond the operational improvements at Harding Marine Services, the relocation also brings another important advantage: proximity to Poseidon B.V., the other core activity of Poseidon Group in the Netherlands.Poseidon B.V. specializes in the inspection, maintenance and certification of lifesaving and firefighting equipment of vessels, and is part of the group%u2019s wider Service Network, which operates service stations in Piraeus, Rotterdam, Limassol, Houston, Suez, Dubai, Barcelona and Algeciras,%u201cHaving Poseidon B.V. nearby allows us to support vessels in a more complete way,%u201d Mr. Papachastas explains. %u201cThrough Harding Marine Services, we supply the vessel with the provisions and technical goods it needs to operate, while through Poseidon B.V. we ensure that its safety and firefighting equipment are properly inspected and certified.%u201dThe development of the Rotterdam hub comes at a particularly meaningful time for the group, as Poseidon celebrates 50 years of presence in the maritime industry this year. %u201cAt the end of the day,%u201d he concludes, %u201cour objective remains unchanged: to be a dependable partner that ship operators can rely on today and in the years ahead.%u201d318 NX