New partners for Green Dragon

Vital funding comes through for Ian Walker's Volvo Ocean Race campaign

The Green Dragon Racing Team is pleased to announce it has secured further funding for its Volvo Ocean Race campaign. Following the exchange of contracts today in Qingdao, Berg Propulsion joins Green Dragon as a supporting partner alongside a Chinese syndicate made up of three companies; Shandong Lingong, Weichai Power and Triangle Group. Discoverireland.com is also a partner sponsor and is promoting Ireland as a tourism destination through their participation in the Volvo Ocean Race.

At today’s announcement in Qingdao, Berg Propulsion CEO Aloysius Hendricks stated: “We are proud to announce our partnership with the Green Dragon, an unique Chinese and Irish collaboration representing for us a collaboration between Europe and Asia. At Berg Propulsion, we feel a strong connection to Green Dragon as we also have European roots combined with a strong Asian influence. This influence is particularly evident in China where we have seen our business grow steadily.”

For Berg Propulsion the sponsorship of this campaign was a natural fit, Green Dragon reflects Berg Propulsion’s values: a global perspective and reach, an emphasis on quality and reliability and a desire for excellence. The Green Dragon Racing Team is a unique Chinese and Irish collaboration. The build of the boat was funded by a syndicate of private Irish investors, and the team already holds strong Chinese links with construction of the boat by a team of 90 Chinese boat builders at McConaghy Boats in Zhuhai, and is the first Volvo Open 70 boat to be built in China.

Berg Propulsion is no stranger to doing business in China, it has an extensive sales, marketing and service office located in Shanghai. The company is one of the world’s leading designers and producers of Controllable Pitch Propellers used for industrial and merchant shipping. Since its inception in 1929, Berg Propulsion has built over 6000 propellers.

Green Dragon CEO Jamie Boag commented, “We are very excited to join forces with Berg Propulsion. The next five months are going to be challenging both on and off the water, we feel a genuine connection to the team at Berg Propulsion and we are looking forward to continuing this journey together”.