“Our bulk expertise dates back to 1884,” says Jens Ditlev Lauritzen, the fourth generation of Lauritzens to be involved in the J. Lauritzen company and president of Lauritzen Bulkers in Copenhagen. He is the only family member currently working for the company. J. Lauritzen, which was previously listed on the Copenhagen stock exchange, is now 100 per cent owned by the Lauritzen Trust (JL Fondet.)

The bulk carrier division, Lauritzen Bulkers, makes up a substantial part of J. Lauritzen’s shipping operations: the division has 50 Handysize vessels with sizes ranging from 25-40 000 tons, owned directly or though a pooling arrangement. The fleet also includes ten Handymax and four Panamax ships - a total of approximately 70 ships, including one Capesize vessel.
“Some of our bulk carriers are engaged in long-term charters, but most are on the spot market. We are spot traders,” says Jens Ditlev Lauritzen. “We operate globally, with no favourite parts of the world – where there is cargo we will be present.” The company presentation confirms this view, stating that “size (of fleet) means flexibility in ocean transport, and no matter where there is a cargo there is usually a Lauritzen bulker close by. We can respond fast to your requests and with rates that are cost competitive.”
“The future? I view that as positive, but probably not in line with the profit of USD 210 million made in 2004. The demand for tonnage is fine, but there are several newbuildings coming on the market over the next year, including four we, that is Lauritzen Bulkers, have under construction in Japan. We’ve been building in Japan over the years to standard designs with some extra features built in. We have a preference for building in Japan since we’ve done so successfully for a long time,” continues Lauritzen. J. Lauritzen has a bunkering department that ensures the quality of bunker fuel, especially with regard to getting the bunker fuel with the lowest possible sulphur content. Lauritzen Bulkers has 28 employees in Copenhagen, four in Singapore and eight in New York.
“Copenhagen,” continues Lauritzen, “is a leading shipping cluster due to the Danish shipping traditions. We have the right environment, with venture capital, technical expertise and some of the world’s leading ship operators. If we go some 30 years back in time, we had companies like H. Bang & Co training many people in how to operate a shipping company. Include a favourable legal environment and the skills of the Danish businessman, and you have the answer to why Copenhagen is such an international shipping hub.
“Working with class is a matter of mutual trust. We are always open for constructive feedback and I find the working climate with DNV to be very good,” concludes Lauritzen.
The company, J. Lauritzen, operates a total of 240 vessels through the business units NYKLauritzenCool, Lauritzen Bulkers, Lauritzen Kosan and Lauritzen Tankers and has a staff of some 860.

Date: 07 February 2008