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Driven by the ever-evolving landscape of the shipping industry, BSM continuously updates the training programmes offered by its Maritime Training Centres (MTC), ensuring they remain at the forefront of industry standards. One example for this dynamic is the MTC’s response to the challenges of the global pandemic resulting in the development of not only highly specialised but also flexible and DNV-approved SIRE 2.0-related courses.

Founded in 2017 as a joint venture, GP General Procurement Company Limited (GenPro) is an independent procurement company. GenPro's objective is to negotiate framework supply agreements with international ship suppliers, ensuring BSM’s customers benefit from optimal prices for maritime products and services worldwide. In addition, the company actively advocates for the establishment of more sustainable supply chains.

In order to reduce CO2 emissions, the shipping sector focuses primarily on minimising fuel consumption and adopting clean fuels. However, the global warming potential of some of the refrigerants used on board is often neglected, Martin Mac Mahon, BSM’s Environmental Compliance Manager, points out.

The superyacht industry has been developing significantly over the recent years, especially since 2020. Today, the total fleet worldwide is at 12,500 yachts over 24m seeing explorer yachts and multihulls growing in popularity and the attractiveness of very large yachts unbroken, despite other predictions. BSM Yachting has entered this market with an innovative approach.

Shipping is navigating rough seas amid a new reality: wars, protectionism and threats to freedom of navigation. Jeroen Deelen, BSM’s Chief Operating Officer, shares his thoughts on the challenges of the new normal.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a safe and efficient way to handle emissions and meet climate targets. And it offers beneficial opportunities for the shipping industry in gaining new business and reducing its own carbon footprint, Johan Lillieskold, Gas Solutions Specialist at Schulte Group, is convinced.

On 1 January 2024, shipping officially joined the European Union’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS). With it emerged a comprehensive set of responsibilities, accompanied by significant financial implications for shipping companies who, for the first time, are included in a market-based measure such as EU ETS. The increased level of interaction between the European Commission and the shipping industry means a novelty for both parties - and an ongoing learning process.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) introduces a new educational programme for future seafarers. BSM Smart Academy is a collaboration with selected maritime universities worldwide with the goal of closing the gap between academic knowledge and practical training.

The role of food onboard commercial vessels has always been an essential aspect of seafarers' lives. Throughout the years, there have been significant changes in the requirements and standards related to food onboard commercial vessels, particularly in terms of hygiene, food quality and the importance placed on these aspects for seafarers. For 30 years, Seachef Hospitality Services has been providing catering and hospitality services in the maritime world. Time to look back.

The goal is clear: shipping aims to become climate-neutral by 2050. An ambitious endeavour, considering that we are talking about an estimated 60,000 ships worldwide. The use of alternative fuels and new propulsion concepts will be of major importance. Ian Beveridge, CEO of the Schulte Group, takes a look at the multi-fuel future.

In the past months, the upcoming inclusion of the maritime sector in the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has caused a lot of debate and open questions regarding who will pay for EU ETS certificates. Now there seems to be more clarity according to Sebastian von Hardenberg, BSM’s Chief Financial Officer.

The Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) has been in force since January 2023. The rating system had been developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to gradually reduce CO2 emissions from commercial ships. While the CII is due for review in 2025, we believe that shipowners should aim for top ratings right away, as the CII may not only influence the vessel sale and purchase market, but also develop into a key criterion for cargo owners when they select a vessel as a means of transport.

For almost a year and a half, the BSM managed container vessel “Joseph Schulte” had been detained in the port of Odesa. The ship was finally able to leave Odesa as the first ship through the new humanitarian corridor established by the Ukrainian government.

The maritime sector faces growing labour shortages, in particular at sea. BSM’s strategy to attract and retain qualified seafarers is diversification combined with a strong focus on adapting career options, as well as growing in-house training programmes. One of BSM’s key initiatives is the Cadet Programme, aimed at developing deck, engine and electrical officers. Shipowners play a fundamental role in the long-term success of this programme, as BSM board member and Director of HR Marine, Eva Rodriguez, explains in this interview.

The decarbonisation of shipping entails a lot of technological and economic challenges. The question of safety in the operation of the new climate-friendly technology solutions is rarely discussed in this context but must not be neglected under any circumstances. An opinion piece by David Furnival, BSM Chairman and experienced maritime safety expert.

The supply of qualified seafarers is growing increasingly tight, with several factors contributing to the growing shortage, such as the effects of Covid-19 and geopolitical tensions. The shortfall has important implications for recruitment and retention as well as manning costs for shipping companies. Developing new source markets to address the shortage of qualified seafarers is key.

How to achieve the big “0” in decarbonising shipping is currently the main focus topic. Unfortunately, the small solutions are sometimes lost from focus. But they are often quite simple to implement and can quickly lead to a positive impact. The IMPA SAVE Pledge is one such initiative that aims to reduce and, if possible, stop the supply of plastic bottled water to our ships, and for which BSM wants to attract more owners as supporters.

The next-level bridge: how artificial intelligence can support nautical officers in the future by temporarily taking over their watch.

The new IMO and EU emissions requirements will be the headline regulatory issues for 2023. Ian Beveridge, CEO of the Schulte Group, addresses the challenges and measures that lie ahead for shipping.

Following a lengthy legislative process, the inclusion of the maritime sector into the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is now done and dusted. The time has come for charterers, shipowners and ship managers to come to grips with the regulation in practical terms. Sebastian von Hardenberg, BSM’s Chief Financial Officer, provides an overview.

As part of its smart maintenance strategy, BSM is moving forward with remote support capabilities for its managed fleet – an important digital development to make shipping safer and more efficient.

The continuing shortage of qualified seafarers is putting the maritime industry under pressure. Companies need to venture into new areas to face this challenge, a challenge which has worsened as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is addressing the issue positively by now developing a Maritime Training Centre on the African continent, further cementing its position in the region.

The successful delivery of the LNG dual-fuel ro-pax “Peter Pan” to German client TT-Line took place at the end of 2022 by the CSC Jinling Shipyard in China. This was the second of two sister ships for which Schulte Marine Concept (S.M.C.) had provided the technical consultancy, plan approval and construction supervision. The delivery successfully concluded S.M.C.’s first LNG-fuelled passenger vessel newbuilding project, underlining S.M.C.’s comprehensive capabilities, capacity and specialised know-how in the demanding segment of passenger vessels and LNG fuelled vessels.

Seafaring is commonly considered to be a stressful occupation, both physically and mentally, due to its unique working and social environment. In recent years, seafarers worldwide have been faced with further uncertainties due to the Covid-19 outbreak and rising geopolitical tensions. Yet the mental health of seafarers is a topic which has often not been sufficiently addressed in the past. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is exploring new ways to improve the wellbeing of its crew.

On 4 February 2023, BSM-managed Service Operation Vessel (SOV) “Windea Leibniz” left Ulstein Shipyard in Norway after completing an extensive upgrade. With an increase of cabins from 60 to over 80, the vessel has transitioned from an SOV to a Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV). Additionally, the ship received one extra pedestal on the stern for Baltic Sea operations to complement the existing pedestal for North Sea use.

Schulte Group, in partnership with naval architect company Technolog, has brought to market a new next-generation design for an LNG bunker vessel.

The war in Ukraine is the dominant topic. A statement from Ian Beveridge, CEO of the Schulte Group, about the extensive implications for the shipping industry.

BSM celebrates 50 years of innovation this year since it was founded as the world’s first third-party ship manager on Cyprus in 1972. And the extraordinary success story goes on.

With new IMO regulations on Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) taking effect in 2023, BSM’s Fleet Performance Centre is supporting ship owners’ efforts in reducing their vessels’ carbon impact.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and Norwegian pioneer Amon Maritime team up to drive the future of green shipping.

Schulte Group’s newbuilding arm, Schulte Marine Concept (S.M.C.), wins new contract to conduct plan approval and construction supervision for first service operation vessels (SOVs) designed for the Chinese market.

BSM has four Maritime Training Centres (MTC) worldwide; the move of its training facility in India from Mumbai to a new state-of-the-art location in Kochi is a sign of BSM’s commitment to continuous investment to ensure the highest standard of training for our seafarers.

Smart and proactive vessel maintenance reduces the risk of issues with onboard systems causing downtime. BSM introduces Condition Monitoring and successfully completes the pilot phase.

BSM plans to initialise an electronic logbook for all of its more than 450 fully managed vessels. Like the implementation of eRBooks, a digital environmental record book, this marks another huge digitalisation effort for the fleet.

BSM teamed up with clean-tech company Signol to study for the first time how individual behavioural change can lead to a reduction in ships’ energy demand and carbon emissions.

Ian Beveridge, CEO of the Schulte Group, is convinced that the struggle for well-trained seafarers will be one of the greatest challenges facing the maritime industry in the coming years.

The pressure within the shipping industry is growing. Well-trained seafarers are in short supply. BSM is taking new innovative approaches to counteract the shortage of skilled manpower.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is working to implement digital Environmental Record Books on all of its over 400 fully managed vessels by mid-2022. It’s a huge digitalisation project that will make the fleet even more efficient and transparent.

BSM further builds on its LNG ship management capabilities to capitalise on the continued upward momentum in the natural gas market.

Amy Liu
Senior Technical Officer, BSM China

How BSM engaged with its employees during the COVID-19 outbreak