End of May, the Schulte Group welcomed 200 guests at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo to thank its long-standing clients and other business partners. The event was organised to celebrate and strengthen the Schulte Group’s engagement and relationships in Japan which is one of its most important markets.

The Schulte Group has been active in Japan since the 1970s, when its first ship orders laid the foundation for the Group’s long-standing relationships with its Japanese business partners. Today, the Group has had its own office in Tokyo for 15 years and Bernhard Schulte (BS), the Schulte Group’s ship owning arm, has currently two Kamsarmax bulk carriers on order at Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbulding which are scheduled for delivery in summer 2023.

The Schulte Group’s ship management arm, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), has been providing ship management services to Japanese clients for several decades. Today, BSM manages over 50 vessels of Japanese owners including container ships, bulk carriers, chemical and oil tankers as well as LPG and LNG carriers. Japan has also become a key market for MariApps, the Schulte Group’s digital technology company which provides its smartPAL software to a number of large Japanese clients.

To underline its commitment, the Schulte Group welcomed 200 guests to a reception at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo to thank long-standing customers and partners and to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its presence in Tokyo. The event was attended by representatives of local ship owners, trading companies, banks, shipyards and other business partners. It was the Schulte Group’s first reception in Japan after the pandemic.

In his welcome address Ian Beveridge, CEO of the Schulte Group, thanked all customers and partners for their decades of support. He pointed out the similarities between the Schulte Group and Japanese companies: “We value trustful, long-term relationships and believe in sustainable partnerships that can be passed on to the next generation. This is why we aim to build on these partnerships and continue to grow our business in Japan under the leadership of Koji Sakano, who represents the Schulte Group in this important market.”

Beveridge continued underlining that the three main challenges for the shipping industry remain decarbonisation, digitalisation and people. A carbon-free future will depend on the right fuel solution and propulsion systems. Improved data transfer capabilities and connectivity of vessels must involve exploring the new satellite configurations as well as the possibilities of artificial intelligence which has come to stay and disrupt the industry’s operations. Building a diverse workforce overall, combining seafaring and office careers and creating the right culture for a sustainable shipping business can attract talented professionals to the industry.

The event took place one day before the Mission to Seafarers’ Adventure Race Japan, in which BSM participated with three teams to raise awareness and much needed funds for seafarers’ welfare. Together, the three teams raised a total of $40,000 while the “BSM global” team won the “Black Dragon Race – Overall Winner” award.