In June 2003, EXMAR NV was created, its shares were listed on the Euronext Brussels stock exchange and the company began trading as an independent company. Nicolas Saverys was appointed as Chief Executive Officer.

This followed the announcement of the partial demerger of CMB NV into CMB nv and EXMAR NV in which all gas and offshore activities were transferred to EXMAR, leaving the dry bulk and crude oil activities under CMB.

This historic event established the EXMAR Group, with a leadership team appointed to turn the vision of Nicolas Saverys of EXMAR as a global maritime solution provider for the oil and gas industry into a reality.

EXMAR's activities were categorised as follows:

  • LPG/NH3: the transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Ammonia (NH3) and other petrochemical gases;
  • LNG: the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG);
  • Offshore: services to the oil and gas industry at sea;
  • Services: consulting, ship management, insurance brokerage and travel agency.