Copenhagen – the international bulk carrier hub

“Doing an issue of the Bulk Carrier Update on the Copenhagen shipping cluster, with a special focus on bulk carriers, is a good idea. There are more than 600 bulk carriers either owned, managed or operated by Copenhagen shipowners, managers or companies,” says BIMCO’s Secretary General Carsten Melchiors. He should know, being the head of BIMCO, a membership organisation that has some 2,500 shipowners and organisations as members.
We went around Copenhagen for three days and interviewed lots of shipping executives about operating bulk carriers globally. What became clear is that this is a very professional shipping environment, based on long, solid shipping traditions, but also a shipping cluster that is willing to invest and take financial risks from time to time. As we all know, the bulk market experienced record rates in 2004 and 2005, with a “cooling down” trend now in 2006. All in all, there are only big smiles to see on everybody’s faces when discussing the last few years’ results.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks for the warm welcome we were given by all the companies and for the time and effort that all the interviewees put into this edition of Bulk Carrier Update. We could easily have written a Bulk Carrier Update of some 60 pages, but that would be a bit too much to read. We have looked into solid, professional companies with excellent stories to tell, and we hope our report will at least do some justice to all the input and information we received.
DNV has performed classification services in Copenhagen since 1910 when the first surveyor,
Mr Schjelderup, was hired. Today, DNV has 115 employees in Denmark.
In this issue you will also find an article on the common structural rules for Bulk Carriers which will come into effect for new ships ordered after 1 April 2006. This article focuses on the most important consequences of the common IACS rules and gives answers to the questions most often raised about the common rules.
DNV is a leading provider of ship classification and our expertise is very much reflected in the common rules. This expertise, including our technical know-how, experience and customer service skills, will remain at the same high level as today and we look forward to working with the leading bulk carrier operators world wide to ensure high quality operations and a continued focus on safety, thus safeguarding your investments and bottom line.
Ulf Freudendahl
DNV Business Director, Bulk Carriers

Date: 07 February 2008