Oldendorff Carriers is sharpening its focus on South America and has made a new hire to help grow its business on both coasts of the continent.
The Lubeck-headquartered company told TradeWinds it has recently begun parcelling business from the east coast of South America and aims to develop more business from the west coast too.
“South America is a growing market for bulk carriers with new mineral projects and increasing grain volumes,” the company told TradeWinds.
“Oldendorff wants to expand in all sizes of bulk carriers to serve our clients in South America better.
“[It is] natural for Oldendorff Carriers to have a strong presence in a growing cargo market.”
Oldendorff has hired Tiago Thomas from shipbroker Braemar, where he was head of dry cargo in Singapore. Thomas will work as a consultant for the company in Brazil.
Earlier this year, Leandro Godoy was hired as chartering manager in Sao Paulo from broker Simpson Spence Young.
Oldendorff described the two hires as “both well experienced” and said they will represent the company locally.
Strategic hubs
The company has its South American base in Santiago, Chile, from which it handles chartering of ultramaxes and handysize bulkers. Its Trinidad office specialises in transshipment operations in the Caribbean.
The news is the first public indication of some of Oldendorff’s strategic aims under the leadership of CEO Patrick Hutchins.
Hutchins took the helm at Oldendorff in late March, following the retirement of Peter Twiss after 27 years in the role. The company’s head of chartering, Yannis Efstathiou, retired at the same time.
But there has been little radical change at the bulker giant since then, save for some staff moves.
The company has continued to be active in the sale-and-purchase market this year. In May, Oldendorff placed firm orders for three 82,000-dwt kamsarmax bulkers at Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry in China for delivery in 2025. The deal includes two sets of options for three vessels.
Three months earlier, Oldendorff sold on four modern ultramax bulkers after buying them out of Chinese leases.
