Gearbulk provides transportation and logistics services for various industrial sectors and is a leading carrier of unitised forest products and non-ferrous metals. It operates the world’s largest fleet of open hatch gantry craned (OHGC) vessels, controlling approximately 35 per cent of the world’s OHGC vessel capacity. The fleet consists of some 70 vessels with a number of newbuildings on order.

With two travelling gantry cranes serving perfectly box-shaped holds, these vessels are specifically designed and equipped to transport unitised cargoes. Gearbulk conducts operations worldwide through a network of offices in 16 countries. The fleet is primarily operated under contracts of affreightment covering periods of between one and ten years. Gearbulk is also involved in transportation of conventional bulk cargoes, using both own and chartered handymax size vessels. In addition, the company is operating a number of terminals worldwide.
We are at the top modern operations headquarters of Gearbulk in Weybridge, a half hour’s drive from Heathrow airport. “Last year we did 18 million tons of cargo,” says Mats Folkesson, senior vice president of operations. He has worked for Gearbulk in Chile, China, South East Asia and Vancouver, Canada before recently moving to London to head up operations.
“The key feature of our fleet is that the vessels have box-shaped holds,” he says. “This allows full access to all parts of the hold with no deck overhang. Smooth surfaces ensure that the risk of cargo damage is reduced, and double hulls provide the safest way of transportation in addition to the minimised risk to the environment. The travelling gantry cranes, with the crane driver located on top of the gantry cranes, allow an unrestricted view of the box-shaped hold below. This allows loading and unloading of the sensitive commodities in a safe and efficient manner. Finally, the vessels are equipped with dehumidification plants, allowing temperature control and humidity levels in the cargo holds. This reduces the risk of cargo damage,” says Folkesson.
“The main commodities for us are forest products such as pulp, paper, newsprint and paper products,” continues Folkesson. “But we are also big on lumber, plywood and specialised wood products, aluminium, steel cargoes, granite and traditional bulk cargoes. Our name indicates that we are in the bulk business, but most of our fleet are actually not defined as bulk carriers,” says Folkesson who is joined by Nicholas Kverndal, vice president operations, Nigel Bradshaw, vice president operations, and captain Egil Oldeide, vice president of projects & business development.
Gearbulk is owned 60 per cent by the Norwegian Kristian Gerhard Jebsen family and 40 per cent by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. The Kristian Gerhard Jebsen family has a long history in shipowning and maritime operations, both in the dry and liquid shipping business. The family owns Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi A/S (KGJS), the technical manager and crewing agent for Gearbulk vessels. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines is one of the world’s largest shipping groups with around 800 vessels and 8,500 employees.

Date: 04 February 2008