Ahrenkiel Steamship and H Vogemann Reederei said they will merge their technical management operations for bulk carriers into a new joint venture.
Ahrenkiel Vogemann Bulk will manage a fleet of 14 bulkers including three vessels of Hamburg-based KG Reederei Roth.
The fleet’s initially will focus on supramax and panamax segments, but there are plans to branch out into other size categories, the two German shipping companies said.
Two handysize vessels are expected to go into service at Reederei Roth in the first quarter of 2017 and will likewise be managed by the new joint venture. Michael Silies and Jan-Eric Panitzki, both of Ahrenkiel Steamship, and Vogemann's Karl Mohr have been appointed as the directors.
Ahrenkiel Steamship and Vogemann had already established a joint pool for supramax bulk carriers last year.
Jens-Michael Arndt (pictured), managing partner of the H Vogemann Group, said: “In today’s difficult market environment close cooperation among partners is crucial. By pooling the partners’ capacities we are boosting our competitiveness in the technical management of bulk carriers and have plans to expand this area further over the coming months.”
