Master mariner with nearly two decades of experience at sea and over eight years of experience in several marine-related endeavors ashore, Capt. Himanshu Marwaha is the Managing Director of CHM Global LLC, a QFC-registered LLC company. Established in 2019, CHM Global is licensed to carry out business activities by providing services concerning sea cargo vessels, shipping agencies, and Marine Warranty Surveys, including advisory/consulting / survey and loss adjusting. It also extends its services to LNG vessels, tankers, dry cargo vessels, Insurance surveys, pre-shipment surveys, method statements, loading & unloading supervision, condition surveys, and other services.
Born and brought up in a nondescript village in Himachal Pradesh, India, Himanshu never expected to be going to sea or establish himself in Qatar. He shifted from sailing to the shore industry in 2014 and ventured into loss adjusting. Eventually, he continued his journey to establish an independent status and portfolios with a strong presence in On-shore, Off-Shore, Loss Adjusting, Legal Consultancy, Ports & Terminals, Risk Surveys and
Marine Warranty Surveys.
“Entering a completely unknown field when I moved to Qatar over eight years ago, the environment and the new job profile were a bit overwhelming. By god’s grace and the blessings of my elders, I learned my way around Qatar and the Middle East and, along the way, built skills, competencies, and qualifications, which, now looking back, I feel humbled by and proud about at the same time. The determination and grit that the sea builds into any seafarer helped immensely in the journey,“- he remembered.
Helping with Onshore and Offshore Marine Warranty Surveys
Himanshu’s 15 years of experience at sea, especially on Energy Vessels (VLGCs), helped shape the profile of CHM Global. While the organization started small, it is presently involved in all kinds of Onshore and Offshore Marine Warranty Surveys for a wide range of clients in Qatar and the Middle Eastern Region.
Simply put, the organization aims to be the one-stop solution for all marine matters in Qatar and the Middle East. It predominantly deals with; P & I Clubs, H & M Underwriters, Cargo Insurers, Ports & Terminals, Rig moves. MWS, Offshore Installations & Client Rep assignments, Vessel Owners/ Operators, Ports & Terminals, Insurers and Recoveries, Risk Assessment, Project Monitoring, Technical Superintendent, Seabed Surveys, bathymetric surveys, Chartering, Sales and purchase of ships.
“We work with all the major marine, oil, and gas companies based out of Qatar and the Middle East. Specifically, we have had an excellent track record working with Qatar Energy and other related companies in the same field,“- explained Himanshu. “We have always endeavored to provide timely and high-quality service while maintaining consistency and reliability in what we deliver to our clients. We acknowledge that the area of work in which we operate requires professionalism and diligence, and we strive always to build confidence with our stakeholders.”
Tackling Initial Challenges
When Himanshu started his business, it was in an entirely new field, in a completely new country. He had to find out the local customs, regulations, and how the marine industry operated in Qatar. It was quite difficult for him to make inroads into areas he had never dealt with. There were already several established players in the market, and many times, Himanshu was discouraged and dissuaded from pursuing what he felt was the natural course.
His primary inspiration was his father, who pushed him to achieve success beyond his comfort zone. While that may have been the primary inspiration, Himanshu’s innate desire to excel in any field fuelled his determination and passion and allowed him to stay on his course.
“My consistent support and sounding board have been my wife, Anshu, who had to bear the brunt of all my experimentation in setting up the company in Qatar,” – he said.
Gender Diversity is the Key
CHM is engaging with the market leaders and influencers in Qatar to understand how the new generation female workforce look at opportunities. CHM recognizes the immense value that the presence of women in the office brings to the organization. And the empathy and compassion that automatically then becomes part of the company culture. In endeavoring to support gender parity, CHM has gradually increased women’s participation in the office.
“My only word of advice to all concerned would be that while we may wish for a utopian world where everyone is equal, the fact remains that the challenges and the glass ceiling that women entrepreneurs and employees face in the workplace are undeniable. However, the only way to get beyond that is to have a strong spirit, remain determined, and build a reliable support structure that encourages and supports all your endeavors. And nurture a supportive work environment for yourself and other women,“- said Himanshu.
“I’m also gravely concerned about this because I have two young daughters for whom I desire a world of fair opportunities.”
Looking at the Future
In the future, Himanshu aspires to find a good work-life balance, fostering excellent relationships both at work and in his personal life, and simply enjoying every day as it comes and goes. Himanshu recognizes that it is no longer about his personal growth. Instead, the lives of people in CHM and their families are intrinsically linked to him. So, his future goal is to grow the company in keeping with the vision of Commitment to continuously improving service quality to be a leader and reliable provider of turnkey, customized, and high-quality marine services while maintaining profitability.