“After more than eight years of crisis in the shipping industry, the re-flagging of ‘GasChem Bremen’ was meant to send out a positive signal for us,” explained Hartmann managing director, Michael Ippich. “The challenging times have come to stay and it will take some more time for the markets to recover. But there is a constant, albeit slight upward trend.”
Changes in German legislation on payroll tax, social insurance and safe manning last year facilitated the re-flagging process for German owners, enabling them to operate vessels under their national flag more competitively than before.
Upon her re-flagging, ‘GasChem Bremen’ has become Hartmann Reederei’s largest training ship, as she will provide accommodation for at least four German trainees on board simultaneously.
“Training plays an important role for us since the founding of the company,“ said Ippich. Despite the global shipping crisis, Hartmann Reederei said that it invests in training to get qualified young seafarers. In addition, the company offers further education and training courses for officers and crew. To date, there are more than 100 highly qualified German seafarers on board Hartmann Reederei vessels, the company claimed.
One reason for the company’s commitment to education and training is the Hartmann fleet, as alongside multi-purpose vessels and containerships, the company specialises in the management of gas carriers.
“This type of vessel is one the most sophisticated in the world. As a matter of course it has to be manned with the most reliable, specially-trained and experienced seafarers,” Ippich concluded.
In the long term, Hartmann said that it planned to operate more vessels under the German flag.
‘GasChem Bremen’ was built at Hyundai Mipo in 2010 and sailed under the Liberian flag for more than six years.