5th Generation: 2013 – present
Johann Bernhard Schulte (1982) & Hermann Christoph Schulte (1984)
Konsul Johann Hermann Schulte (1847 - 1920)
1883
Founding of Schulte & Bruns
Founding of Schulte & Bruns by Johann Hermann Schulte, a ship broking and ship agency, alongside his friend Christoph Bruns in Papenburg.
1893
Establishment of a branch
Johann Hermann Schulte moves to Emden and establishes a branch of Schulte & Bruns.
1900
Acquisition of 12 sailing vessels
Schulte & Bruns acquires 12 sailing vessels which were mainly employed in the Baltic timber trade.
1912
Acquisition of first steamship
Schulte & Bruns buys their very first steamship, ‘Konsul Schulte’.
1917
Separation of Schulte and Bruns
Johann Hermann Schulte and Christoph Bruns split. Christoph Bruns gets involved in shipbroking, agency and cargo handling in Papenburg, whose firm is still active today. A shipyard was founded.
Konsul Heinrich Schulte (1876 - 1937) & Konsul Johann Schulte (1877 - 1938)
1923
Inflation and world economic crisis
As Konsul Heinrich Schulte takes over, the inflation and world economic crisis are mastered during 1923 and 1929 – 1930.
1937
Third generation takes the helm
During the years of 1937 – 1938, the third generation takes the helm.
1939
Supply of raw materials
The seagoing fleet comprises of 16 vessels with approximately 90,000 dwt and an armada of inland waterway barges. The company has offices in Emden, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Duisburg while focusing on the supply of raw materials to the German mining and steel industry.
Konsul Bernhard Schulte (1907 - 1975) & Hans-Heinrich Schulte (1909-2015)
1945
Re-opening of office
The third generation re-opens the office after World War II with their last three surviving steamers being expropriated by the Allies and soon after loaded with ammunition and scuttled in the North Sea. Step by step, the hereditary fields of shipping are regained during the years of 1945 – 1948.
1949
First vessel after the war
The company purchases the first vessel, ‘Konsul Schulte’, after the war.
1955
Founding of Bernhard Schulte
Schulte & Bruns is one of the leading shipping companies in post-war Germany. Konsul Bernhard Schulte splits away, forming his own ship owning company in Hamburg which focuses on a new business line: operating in the spot markets without reliance on contract cover.
1956
Expansion of fleet
‘Suez Boom’, the shipping boom that transforms the Suez Canal and helps to expand the fleet.
1957
Delivery of newbuildings
13 newbuildings are delivered, half of which are owned in partnership with Doornkaat AG and other old friends.
Dr. Heinrich Udo Schulte (1935) & Thomas Wilhelm Schulte (1939)
1963
The start of the fourth generation
The fourth generation starts with Dr. Heinrich Schulte owning 14 vessels.
1967
EXPANSION of Chartering Department
Thomas Schulte joins the company and expands the in-house chartering activities of owned and external tonnage.
1968
Steady expansion of Bernhard Schulte
A first step has been taken towards specialisation. In November 1968, the management of the first German LPG tanker, KAP ROLAND, was taken over.
1971
A family controlled company
The majority of the Bernhard Schulte fleet is now truly family controlled. At the same time, the first vessel is flagged out to Liberia, with many others following that path.
1972
Creation of the first ship management business
The first German-controlled ship management company was formed in Limassol, Cyprus, with the name Hanseatic Shipping Co.
1973
Expansion in gas vessel segment
Further expansion of specialist gas carrier expertise with the delivery of three owned ethylene and LNG capable gas carriers (Anna, Sophie and Lissy Schulte).
1975
Tribute to a leader
Konsul Bernhard Schulte passes away.
1980
Ascan Lutteroth joins the management team
Ascan Lutteroth, the brother-in-law of Dr. Heinrich and Thomas Schulte, joins the management team.
1981
Start of shipping crisis
The shipping crisis strikes a company with 30 owned and over 100 managed vessels.
1987
End of shipping crisis
Only 22 vessels are left at the end of the crisis with limited reserves. Thomas Schulte leaves Bernhard Schulte with four vessels and sets up his own company.
1988
Move into Container vessels
The company makes the move into fully cellularised containerships.
1989
Membership with Unigas
The company becomes a member of the Unigas Pool, a commercial operator for gas carriers of up to 15,000 cbm.
1996
MOVE INTO NEW SEGMENTS
The company enters the third sector of shipping activities with the acquisition of the Hamburg-based liner operator, Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Reederei. The company also moves into product tankers by purchasing five 1986-built chemical product tankers and placing two product tanker newbuilding orders at HHI.
2001
Bernhard Schulte CEO
The Bernhard Schulte CEO position is transferred to Ian Beveridge.
2004
Move into Crude Oil Tankers
Bernhard Schulte makes the move into crude oil tankers and restarts with dry bulk carrier activities.
2008
Formation of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
The hitherto independent Schulte Group shipmanagement companies (Hanseatic Shipping, Dorchester Atlantic Marine, Eurasia Group and Vorsetzen Bereederungs- und Schiffahrtskontor) are merged under the name Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, with the vision to be a leading maritime solutions provider.
2011
The New Schulte Group headquarters
Bernhard Schulte moves into a new office building in the heart of the Hamburg harbour.
Johann Bernhard Schulte (1982) & Hermann Christoph Schulte (1984)
2013
The start of the fifth generation
The sons of Dr. Heinrich Schulte, Johann Bernhard and Hermann Christoph, join the company as partners.
2014
Entry into large scale LNG carrier ownership
The company enters the market for large scale LNG carrier ownership by ordering a 174.000 cbm vessel through a Joint Venture with Mitsui & Co.
Entry into Offshore wind farm maintenance vessels
The company enters the market of offshore wind farm maintenance vessels by ordering two service operation vessels with a Chinese partner in a Joint Venture. BS Offshore was formed in the following year as an entity to develop Bernhard Schulte’s offshore ship owning capabilities.
2015
Creation of Hanseatic Unity Chartering
OPDR is sold to CMA CGM, after Bernhard Schulte decides not to focus on liner operations as a core business. O&S Chartering, Bernhard Schulte’s joint venture with Reederei Nord for chartering containerships and bulk carriers, is renamed to Hanseatic Unity Chartering (HUC) with Borealis Ltd. incorporated as the third partner. In 2017, Asiatic/Atlantic Lloyd and Leonhardt & Blumberg also joined as partners of HUC. In 2021, BS departs from Hanseatic Unity Chartering.
2017
Move into Dry Bulk Carrier ownership
Bernhard Schulte moves into fully owned dry bulk carriers by ordering four large handy-size bulk carriers.
2018
Addition of LNG Bunker Tanker
Delivery of 7.500 cbm LNG bunker tanker, “Kairos”, that is jointly owned with Babcock International.
2019
Formation of Hanseatic Maritime Advisory Services
Formation of Hanseatic Maritime Advisory Services offering consultancy services to third-party customers.
Formation of Innoport venture capital
Formation of Innoport venture capital for the pursuit of business opportunities within the global maritime and logistics start-up scene.
Creation of a global marine travel service provider
BCD travel, a leading travel management company, joins forces with BSM to create a specialised, dynamic and highly responsive global marine travel service provider. This joint venture bolsters BCD’s expansion of its global Energy, Resources & Marine practice, adding specialised services for the marine sector.
2020
MariApps takes over Rescompany
MariApps takes over Rescompany, a provider of integrated web-based hospitality software for cruise ships.
Formation of Hanseatic Connect
Formation of Hanseatic Connect, specialising in global healthcare recruitment solutions.
2021
Establishment of Hurtigruten Technical Services
BSM Cruise Services and Hurtigruten complete a joint venture and establish Hurtigruten Technical Services, to manage Hurtigruten’s fleet of expedition cruise ships.
