Wah Kwong Maritime Transport is looking to use its shipmanagement business strategically as a springboard to making equity ­investments, says chief executive David Palmer.

“We are not expanding in third-party management to compete with the likes of V.Ships,” says Palmer, who joined the conservative, family-owned shipowner a month ago.

Rather, the Hong Kong time charter-oriented owner is looking for clients that need both shipmanagement expertise and commercial connections from a company that moves easily between the Chinese and international business and shipping cultures.