What if spare parts for vessels could be manufactured where and when they’re needed — cutting months off lead times and reducing emissions at the same time? This is the vision driving Pelagus 3D. From its beginnings at Wilhelmsen to its 2023 launch as a joint venture with thyssenkrupp, the company has become a global frontrunner in on-demand manufacturing for the maritime and energy sector.
By enabling parts to be produced closer to the point of use, Pelagus is helping original equipment manufacturers reduce inventory waste, speed up maintenance and repairs for shipowners, and lower shipping emissions. It’s a powerful example of how innovation can reshape global supply chains for a more sustainable and efficient future.
As the maritime industry adapts to new regulatory, geopolitical, and technological realities, solutions like Pelagus show how Norwegian innovation and Singapore’s maritime ecosystem can drive real-world change together. Their platform enables shipping companies to rethink global supply chains — making them smarter, greener, and more resilient.
Pelagus will take the stage during the SNIC Innovation Spotlight to share how on-demand manufacturing is transforming maritime operations. Don’t miss this session — followed by the Pelagus-sponsored afternoon networking break, featuring Norwegian waffles courtesy of the Seamen’s Mission. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect with industry peers and continue the innovation conversation.
MEET Håkon Ellekjær, CEO, Pelagus
Ahead of SNIC 2025, we visited Pelagus 3D to hear from CEO Håkon Ellekjær on their venture journey of global growth.
VENTURE JOURNEY
Q. Pelagus has grown quickly from its beginnings at Wilhelmsen to becoming a global joint venture. Looking back, what have been the key success factors in that journey?
A: Pelagus exists because of a clear pain point in the maritime and energy industries: the challenge of obtaining spare parts quickly, especially for older assets. A large portion of the world fleet is above 20 years old, and delays in sourcing critical components can lead to costly downtime.
From the start, we chose to work with the genuine makers, the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), because they own the design rights and intellectual property. Building solutions that strengthen their position, rather than bypass it, has been essential.
Our success comes from combining the global maritime reach of Wilhelmsen with thyssenkrupp’s industrial and engineering expertise, and from having a team that truly understands both advanced manufacturing and real-world asset operations.
SINGAPORE AS A HUB
Q. Pelagus chose Singapore as its headquarters. What were the key factors behind that decision, and how has being based in Singapore supported your global journey so far?
A: Singapore is the natural home for maritime innovation. It brings together asset owners and managers (shipowners/managers and oil and gas operators etc.), OEMs, classification societies, and regulators within one connected ecosystem.
The strong support from agencies like Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) Singapore has helped us test and scale new digital manufacturing solutions faster. Being based here has allowed us to engage closely with key partners in the region while building a global presence across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY ADOPTION
Q. Certification and regulatory acceptance are key barriers in safety-critical industries like shipping. How is Pelagus working with classification societies and regulators to enable broader adoption of on-demand manufactured parts?
A: We have worked closely with DNV, ABS, and other class societies from the very beginning to ensure that every process and part meets maritime and energy safety and quality standards. At the same time, we partner directly with OEMs, who remain the design authority for all parts. Because they own the IP, reverse engineering without their involvement is not an option.
This collaboration between OEMs and classification societies creates the framework of trust the industry needs. It also helps combat the growing grey market of uncertified or reverse-engineered parts, by offering OEMs a secure, transparent alternative: genuine parts produced on-demand under their control.
Q. Legacy parts and obsolete components are a major focus for your platform. What are the biggest hurdles in converting these “hard-to-source” parts into 3D-printed or on-demand manufactured, certified replacements?
A: The real challenge is not the conversion itself as the technology is ready but bringing the OEMs onboard. Many OEMs have large legacy portfolios that are no longer actively produced, yet still vital to asset owners and managers.
We work with end users to identify where the demand and operational pain points lie and share these insights with the OEMs. Once they see the opportunity and the value of re-engaging their legacy parts, adoption accelerates quickly.
Our role is to make that process seamless through helping OEMs digitize and qualify parts so they can offer certified replacements efficiently and profitably.
GLOBAL EXPANSION & FUTURE OUTLOOK
Q. Looking five to ten years ahead, how do you see on-demand manufacturing and digital platforms transforming maritime supply chains — and where do you see Pelagus in that picture?
A: Maritime and energy supply chains are becoming digital, connected, and sustainable. In the coming years, spare parts will increasingly exist as digital assets rather than physical stock, allowing faster response times and a smaller environmental footprint.
Pelagus aims to be the trusted bridge between OEMs, shipowners, and qualified manufacturers – enabling genuine, certified parts to be produced and delivered anywhere in the world, whenever they are needed.
We see on-demand manufacturing not as a replacement for existing supply chains, but as an evolution — one that makes the supply chain faster, smarter, and more resilient for the decades ahead.
Pelagus’s journey reflects how forward-thinking innovation, strategic partnerships, and bold leadership can reshape an entire industry. As the maritime sector navigates rapid change, their story illustrates the power of combining Norwegian technology roots with Singapore’s global hub to scale solutions that are both practical and transformative.
We look forward to welcoming Håkon Ellekjær at SNIC 2025 as part of the Innovation Spotlight, where he will share how Pelagus is helping shape the future of maritime supply chains — one on-demand part at a time.