Hamburg-based ship management company E.R. Schiffahrt is expanding its strategic partnerships with international clients and shipping lines. For Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) – one of the largest shipping companies in the world with nearly 800 vessels – the team in Hamburg is set to manage two Newcastlemax bulk carriers with a dead weight capacity of around 210,000 tonnes. The handover of Dawn Horizon, a three-year-old vessel measuring 295 metres, took place in Caofeidian, China, on 30 July 2016. The second ship will be added in September 2016. The management contracts were signed at a ceremony in the German Embassy in Tokyo on 1 September 2016 and include crewing and technical operations as well as quality management, safety, environmental protection and energy efficiency.
E.R. Schiffahrt has maintained close business relationships with a range of top charter customers in Asia for many years. Expanding the service portfolio to include ship management in the same continent is the next logical step in the strategic direction of E.R. Schiffahrt. This development increases the proportion of third-party clients to around 50 per cent.
Nils Aden, chief executive officer of E.R. Schiffahrt, is pleased with the new order from Japan: ‘The mandate from NYK confirms the strength of our performance and our competitive position, and it represents a major vote of confidence. We very much look forward to a successful cooperation with another well-known top player in the market and, as for all our clients, we aim to secure a long-term personal partnership.’
The Newcastlemax class refers to the largest size of bulk carrier that can call at Newcastle, Australia, the world’s biggest coal export port.
