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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Apr 07, 2026 (Tue)

Ultrabulk CEO Olesen Prioritizes "Door-to-Door" Services and Strengthens Ties with Japanese Shipowners

Mr. Olesen (center), Mr. Okazaki of the Japanese subsidiary (right), and Ms. Kyo Takahashi

　Major Danish dry-bulk shipping company Ultrabulk is focusing on door-to-door transportation service ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80Major+Danish+dry-bulk+shipping+company+%3Cb%3EUltrabulk%3C%2Fb%3E+is+focusing+on+door-to-door+transportation+services.+In+addition+to+the+maritime+transportation+of+various+dry+bulk+cargoes%2C+the+company+intends+to+provide+added+value+to+shippers+by+being+involved+in+the+entire+supply+chain%2C+including+river+and+land+transport.+We+asked+CEO+Hans-Christian+Olesen+about+the+company%E2%80%99s+growth+strategy.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I+think+competition+among+dry+bulk+shipping+companies+is+intense.+How+do+you+differentiate+yourself+from+other+companies%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+provide+greater+value+throughout+the+supply+chain%2C+not+just+in+maritime+transportation.+Traditionally%2C+dry+bulk+transportation+generally+involved+assigning+one+cargo+to+one+vessel.+We+differentiate+ourselves+by+offering+services+such+as+loading+multiple+cargoes+on+a+single+vessel%2C+transporting+small-lot+cargoes%2C+carrying+specialized+cargoes+such+as+wind+power-related+equipment%2C+and+providing+door-to-door+transportation.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+door-to-door+transportation%2C+we+have+launched+a+service+that+delivers+throughout+Europe+via+Rotterdam+in+the+Netherlands.+For+example%2C+Panamax+bulkers+transport+a+combination+of+bulk+and+bagged+cargo+from+Asia+to+Rotterdam.+From+there%2C+the+cargo+is+delivered+to+customers+in+Germany%2C+Switzerland%2C+Austria%2C+and+other+countries+using+smaller+vessels%2C+rail%2C+and+trucks.+We+also+have+a+warehouse+in+Germany.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CConversely%2C+we+have+also+launched+a+service+that+collects+cargo+from+across+Europe+and+transports+it+to+other+regions+via+Rotterdam.+We+would+like+to+expand+this+kind+of+door-to-door+transportation+service+to+other+regions+as+well.+In+a+few+years%2C+our+business+model+will+likely+look+different+from+what+it+is+today.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Operating+approximately+200+vessels+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+composition+of+your+fleet%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+operate+a+total+of+170+to+200+small-+and+medium-sized+bulkers+and+multipurpose+vessels.+We+own+three+vessels%2C+and+the+rest+are+on+time+charter+from+shipowners.+The+breakdown+by+ship+type+is+approximately+80+Supramax+vessels%2C+about+60+Handysize+vessels%2C+about+40+Panamax+vessels%2C+and+about+20+multipurpose+vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+number+of+newbuilds+on+order+stands+at+14+vessels.+All+are+newbuild+charters+from+Japanese+shipowners.+All+will+be+built+at+Japanese+shipyards+and+join+the+fleet+by+2029.+The+breakdown+is+two+Panamax+vessels%2C+two+Supramax+vessels%2C+three+Handysize+vessels%2C+and+seven+multipurpose+vessels.+Recently%2C+the+first+of+the+seven+multipurpose+vessels+entered+service.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTo+provide+high-quality+transport+services%2C+Japanese-built+bulkers+and+multipurpose+vessels+with+superior+fuel+efficiency+and+other+advantages+are+essential.+Our+growth+strategy+is+to+pursue+added+value+through+specialized+cargo+transport+and+door-to-door+transportation+while+working+with+Japanese+partners+to+build+an+outstanding+fleet.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Trial+use+of+B100+fuel+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I+would+like+to+ask+about+your+environmental+initiatives.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTechnologies+related+to+alternative+fuels+that+are+effective+in+reducing+GHG+%28greenhouse+gas%29+emissions+from+ships+are+gradually+being+established.+Methanol+has+already+been+put+into+practical+use%2C+and+ammonia+is+also+nearing+commercialization.+On+the+other+hand%2C+I+do+not+think+discussion+has+deepened+on+who+should+bear+the+costs+associated+with+reducing+GHG+emissions.+The+adoption+of+the+IMO+%28International+Maritime+Organization%29+Net+Zero+Framework+%28NZF%29+has+also+been+postponed.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBiofuels+could+be+one+option.+Recently%2C+with+the+support+of+a+Japanese+shipowner%2C+we+conducted+a+trial+voyage+using+100%25+biodiesel+fuel%2C+%E2%80%99B100%2C%E2%80%99+on+the+40%2C000-DWT+Handysize+bulker+%E2%80%99Ultra+Yorkshire.%E2%80%99+Wood+pellets%2C+a+biomass+fuel%2C+were+transported+from+New+Orleans%2C+U.S.%2C+to+Liverpool%2C+U.K.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAfter+speaking+with+the+captain+and+chief+engineer+of+the+vessel+that+arrived+in+Liverpool%2C+I+was+told+that+the+biofuel+was+of+very+high+quality%2C+easy+to+handle%2C+and+caused+no+problems.+Another+advantage+is+that+there+is+no+need+to+switch+fuels+when+entering+Europe%E2%80%99s+ECAs+%28Emission+Control+Areas%29.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Proposal+to+Japanese+shippers+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Three+years+have+passed+since+you+established+your+Japanese+subsidiary+in+2023.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+been+engaged+in+ship+procurement+in+Japan+for+many+years.+Through+ship+procurement%2C+we+have+become+widely+known+among+Japanese+shipyards+and+shipowners.+We+wanted+to+expand+our+business+with+Japanese+partners+to+include+shippers+as+well.+So+we+established+a+Japanese+subsidiary%2C+and+Hiroaki+Okazaki%2C+formerly+of+a+shipping+company%2C+joined+us.+Once+a+contract+is+concluded%2C+it+is+truly+honored+as+a+contract+in+Japan.+This+Japanese+business+practice+suits+our+mindset.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCurrently%2C+the+Copenhagen+team+handles+vessel+procurement%2C+while+the+Japanese+subsidiary+is+responsible+for+shippers%2C+but+our+company+as+a+whole%2C+including+offices+in+Singapore+and+elsewhere%2C+works+closely+together+to+serve+Japanese+customers.+Even+in+cases+where+it+may+be+difficult+for+Japanese+shipping+companies+to+quote+freight+rates%2C+we+can+leverage+our+network+of+10+locations+worldwide+to+propose+services.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Supply+and+demand+are+positive+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+outlook+for+the+small-+and+medium-sized+bulker+market%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+believe+the+fundamentals+of+transport+demand+and+vessel+supply+are+positive.+Shippers%E2%80%99+businesses+are+generally+performing+well%2C+and+demand+for+their+products+is+strong.+I+think+the+newbuilds+on+order%2C+at+4%E2%80%935%25+of+the+existing+fleet%2C+is+at+a+manageable+level.+I+expect+the+market+to+maintain+a+certain+level%2C+even+if+it+does+not+surge.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+geopolitical+risks+are+a+concern.+The+war+in+Ukraine+has+entered+its+fourth+year.+A+new+conflict+has+begun+in+the+Middle+East.+The+direct+impact+of+the+current+deterioration+in+the+Middle+East+situation+on+the+dry+bulk+market+is+limited%2C+but+if+this+situation+continues%2C+it+could+cool+the+global+economy+and+adversely+affect+the+shipping+market.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+outlook+for+the+multipurpose+vessel+market%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHistorically%2C+the+multipurpose+vessel+market%2C+especially+the+heavy+lift+vessel+segment%2C+has+been+influenced+by+the+transportation+needs+of+the+oil+and+gas+industry.+We+are+now+focusing+on+transport+demand+from+Asia+to+Africa+and+South+America.+There+is+growing+demand+for+the+transportation+of+project+cargo%2C+unitized+cargo%2C+and+machinery+for+mining+development.+To+meet+these+needs%2C+we+established+a+base+in+Shanghai%2C+China.+We+will+also+work+with+our+bases+in+Singapore%2C+Japan%2C+and+South+Korea+to+provide+solutions+to+customers%E2%80%99+various+transportation+needs.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%9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