Wilhelmsen is ahead of its targets. (Wilhelmsen Lines A-S)

Wilhelmsen Is Ahead of Its Targets

A year ago, Wilhelmsen Lines A/S of Norway was still in shock over the loss of 50 executives and key staffers in a tragic airplane crash.

Now, however, the carrier believes that this year it could achieve the expansion that its late chief executive, Bjoern Robertsen, ambitiously forecast in 1989.

"We've been looking at areas for development, including other trades. We know what we want, and I think we'll see some of it materialize in 1991. That's not far off from his plans," said the company's new president and chief executive officer, Ingar Skaug.

Just what the expansion might entail, Skaug is unwilling to reveal just yet.

But in an interview, he did say he expected Wilhelmsen Lines to report an operating profit for 1990.

"We will have a very good year in 1990. There will be an operating profit," Skaug said in late December while he and executive vice president Trond …