The first vessel the Lida

As a young boy Jan joined his father, Captain Jan Wind sr, on board in school holidays. Later on he worked for Captain Diepeveen as chief mate/relief Captain on the Rijnborg.

He was 28 years old when he bought the Lida, and with help from a few companies, a government loan and a bank loan, he created his company. The first years were difficult. An expensive crew, a poorly maintained vessel, a 10% interest rate and a collapsed freight market.

International crew

In late 1991 he decided to start working with a Russian crew. The Lida was the second vessel in Holland to do so, after the Concordia, and one of the first in the world. He travelled to Talinn in Estonia - at that time still part of the Soviet Union - to find ‘his new guys’. A week later he flew back with two mates, a cook, two a/b sailors, an excellent engineer and a few professional welders.

They were willing to work hard and were eager to learn the traditional Dutch way of sailing. Jan also learned to speak Russian.
Jan said: “No more money to the shipyard and no more days
off-hire”. His decision to work with these very motivated men proved to be the beginning of a great success story.

Genovy Buchinsky, Alexander Shpak and Sergey Averin, a few members of his first recruited crew, are still working on the Lida.

Bridge became also an 'office'

An expert seaman, Jan was also a businessman. Unlike other Dutch captain/owners, he did everything himself. From the vessel's bridge he made his office. The only management he outsourced was the chartering, handled first by Wagenborg and later by Brinkman, Saar Breda and Vertom Shipping.

The more confidence he gained in the Lida, the more he wanted to make longer voyages. Adventure not only was exciting, it was also the way to earn money.

His first big trip was from Cadiz to Montreal and from Milwaukee to Aqaba with an enormous project cargo for the mining industry in Jordan.

Captain and broker

The last piece of freedom he took when he did the chartering himself. With three independent satellite systems, he was no longer afraid to take the final step and go solo. Every day, he sent thousands of emails to various brokers around the globe from his ‘office’, and received cargo offers in return.

His first self-chartered trips were from Italy to Indonesia, from Singapore to Macao, and from Japan to Baltimore. His main challenge was to combine part cargoes wherever possible, in the hold and on deck, to make the most of the vessel’s capacity.

Daily logbooks on the web

His aim to share his love and enthusiasm for sailing resulted in the foundation of an educational project in 2003, Zee op School (Sea at School).

Children between the ages of 10 and 12 could follow the vessel via the internet and ask the crew questions. A correspondent sailed on board of the vessel to update the website with daily logbooks and stories: The adventures of Captain Jan Wind and his crew, family and the dog Antonio. In 2004 more than 100 schools participated. However, the project ended on 31 December 2007.

The WIND fleet

To invest his money, Jan bought the Suzie Q in 2002, together with his Chief Officer Oleg Doroshenko, who became Captain/ owner. The chartering went to Blue Marlin Chartering on Curacao.

In 2004 the Layla had been bought with Captain Bert Voorsluijs (followed by Captain Alexander Goncharuk). The last vessel of the fleet, Aniek, with Captain Max Burgazli, came in January 2006.

An office ashore in Alkmaar

Because the Captain/owners preferred a little more structure and support, Jan tackled a new challenge in 2005: an office ashore.
Together with his brother-in-law Robbert van Diepen, with a career in the financial world, Jan Wind Shipping BV was established in the centre of Alkmaar, Holland.

The management of the vessels remained the direct responsibility of the Captain/Owners, but bookkeeping, chartering and technical support was, and still is, coordinated from the office in Alkmaar.

In December 2005 Jan made his last trip aboard the Lida. Captain Arne de Jong took over and became shared owner of the Lida.

Cables

From 1999 the company started to specialise in the carriage of submarine cable cargoes. Because of the wide open hold of 10.00 meters, the derricks and the small tonnage of the Lida, she appeared to be an excellent vessel for these cargoes.

Their new developped and certified cable tank concept is also suitable to install on third vessels. To fulfill the demand of their clients WIND regularly charters third party vessels.

Team of WIND

Jan and Robbert soon hired extra personnel.
The team now consists of:
Erik Thomas (chartering manager); Tom Nooij (technical manager); Pim Bosscha (superintendent); Sandra Pels (accounting) and Olga Slink (accounting).
Jan is responsible for chartering and technical management and Robbert takes care of financial and operational management.

Through the years the company has grown from a one-man business into a professional team of captain/owners and back office staff.

A new logo and even a new name were chosen to reflect this professionalism. On 26th February 2008, the new Corporate Identity WIND was presented to customers and relations.

WIND; professional and adventurous

WIND’s professionalism does not mean the adventure, the romance and the pleasure has been lost. On the contrary; they are an intrinsic part of the WIND philosophy.

WIND carefully selects its personnel and fleet partners based on this profile. WIND wants people who love ships and the sea, who enjoy difficult project cargoes, small tropical ports, exotic sailing areas and true seamanship.

People who want to work hard to achieve a maximum performance for the charterers. Who think up creative about solutions and who do not take “no” for an answer.

Renewed vessels

The fleet’s rebuilding program fits in perfectly with the company’s maximum performance philosophy. The Lida was rebuilt in 1999, the Layla in 2008 and Aniek followed in 2009.

The vessels are from the 70's, but are now back on the market as modern, renovated vessels with a classic look.

WIND in the future

As the history shows, WIND does not aim to grow into a very large company, but it does strive towards further professionalisation.

With a small office, a team of dedicated and motivated professionals, a limited number of own vessels and a few time chartered ships, we aim to deliver high quality services for our clients in a pleasant atmosphere.