2013: Founded by Kurt Zech, Ove Meyer and Jan Hendrik Tobbe
2014: Spends $200m on MPP newbuildings
2015: Buys half f chartering outfit EMS ConBulk
2017: Adds HC Group and Carisbrooke Shipping vessels
2017: Acquires Rickmers Line after that company buys Nordana Project & Chartering
2017: Buys Rickmers Holding's shipmanagement business
2018: Acquires ER Schiffahrt and shipbroker Harper Petersen & Co
2018: Combines MPP operations with Intermarine
2018: Forms Zeamarine joint venture to combine Intermarine, Zeaborn Chartering and Rickmers Line
2019: Acquires 100% of Zeamarine joint venture from partner New Mountain Capital
2019: Buys Offen tanker management unit CPO
Expanding Zeaborn Group has branched out into tanker management in a deal with German compatriot Offen Group.
The shipowner and manager has signed a deal to buy 100% of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei (CPO Tankers), the tanker management subsidiary.
Terms are being kept confidential, but the company said the transaction keeps it on track toward its strategy to "further consolidate the shipping industry and expanding its services as an integrated and globally active shipping company."
"The acquisition enables Zeaborn Ship Management to expand its service portfolio to the wet market for oil and product tankers," the company added.
For Offen, the move is a result of its focus on being an owner and manager of post-panamax container vessels.
Zeaborn told TradeWinds the exact number of CPO ships it is taking on is confidential.
It added: "CPO Tankers specialises in the management of handysize and medium range tonnage. Zeaborn intends to expand the focus beyond this vessel segment."
And it said it "absolutely" expected to add more tankers in future.
"Many of our clients have reported interest in transferring tankers into management by Zeaborn," it said.
The CPO deal with its oil major approvals builds the basis for this "envisaged expansion," it added.
"With the ability to serve the segments of containers, MPPs, bulkers and now tankers, Zeaborn believes to be in excellent market position for further growth. An expansion to further vessel segments is a possibility but not a must."
'Reputable' company added
“With CPO Tankers, a well-known and very reputable company joins our ship management activities," said Zeaborn's managing partners Ove Meyer and Jan-Hendrik Tobbe.
"CPO Tankers, the management and the employees are a great fit for our organisation, enabling us to expand our service portfolio with a first-class tanker management.”
CPO's managing owner Claus-Peter Offen added: "We, as Offen Group, want to grow our leading position as owner/manager of post-panmax container vessels through significant investments in this sector.
"Pure shipmanagement services in tank or bulk are no longer in our focus”.
In December, TradeWinds reported that 10 product tankers managed by CPO were in the process of being sold, with London-listed TuftonOceanic Assets tipped to be buying eight of the ships.
TradeWinds understood negotiations around the series of eight 37,000-dwt vessels were ongoing, but no final agreement had been reached.
Zeaborn was founded in 2013 and has specialised in MPPs and bulkers.
