Safe with us
Sustainable shipping
“Sustainability is the defining challenge of our time, and it’s one we must tackle together.
At Oldendorff, we face this challenge by staying true to who we are - a company built on family values and strong business ethics.
What drives us is our commitment to diversity, respect for human rights, and proactive environmental stewardship. We remain curious and adaptable, collaborating with our partners and taking decisive steps when opportunities arise.”
Patrick Hutchins, CEO Oldendorff Carriers
Steps we are taking
Sustainability Investments
Our fleet of approximately 100 modern “eco” ships represents a significant investment of billions over the last decade. We are committed to continuously reducing fuel consumption and minimizing GHG emissions.
Industry Focus
We are solely focused on the bulk carrier segment of the shipping industry. We own and charter about 700 bulk carriers at any time.
Pioneering Spirit
As we strive to meet the challenges of achieving environmental targets, our Pioneering Spirit is in full gallop mode. Our Innovation and Sustainability teams are investigating a broad array of ideas to help us meet and exceed future regulations.
Our “Eco” Ships
The owned fleet of Oldendorff Carriers is a modern fleet of about 100 bulk carriers. Many of the vessels were built or modified with fuel saving devices.
Our Innovative Mindset
We see our people as our greatest asset. Across our global team of approximately 4,500 employees, we encourage a culture of innovation to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and make our shipping operations more sustainable.
Our Research and Development Team is continually looking for the best solutions to improve the environmental footprint of our ships.
Our Sustainability Team is collaborating with many different organisations and entities to listen, learn and share to find the best ways forward. The risks of making wrong decisions on sustainability issues, due to insufficient research or understanding, is more significant now than it has ever been.
Marine Mammal Protection
Oldendorff Carriers aligns its navigational voyage planning with the WSC Whale Chart, avoiding areas with high concentrations of marine mammals and reducing vessel speed to minimize risks of collisions and underwater radiated noise. Since 2017, we are also participating in the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program led by the Port of Vancouver, working to mitigate the impact of commercial shipping on whale populations. Our efforts earned the Port’s Blue Circle Award three times, most recently in 2023, recognizing our commitment to supporting a healthy environment in and around the port.
Oldendorff Research Centre
In partnership with the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, a leader in naval architecture and ocean engineering, we are establishing the Oldendorff Research Centre. The Centre will focus on advancing key areas such as efficient ship design, alternative fuels, and digitalization. This collaboration aims to drive meaningful change in alignment with international sustainability efforts and the net-zero targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Founding members of the Green Corridor Project
Oldendorff Carriers is a founding member of the North Pacific Green Corridor Consortium (NPGCC), established to decarbonize the transport of key commodities between North America and Asia. Launched in June 2023, the NPGCC brings together industry leaders, including CN, Mitsubishi, NYK, Teck, and major ports, to explore low-carbon fuels, propulsion technologies, and energy-efficient solutions. The consortium aims to reduce emissions across the value chain, fostering collaboration and driving progress towards sustainable shipping.
At Oldendorff, we strive for operational excellence and closely align our business operations with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Click on the SDG’s below for more information
Good Health & Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Oldendorff encourages employees to keep themselves fit by subsidising gym or sport membership in most offices. Lunchtime sport is available once a week in the Lübeck head office where Oldendorff also subsidises company bicycles to encourage fitness.
Oldendorff also offers a healthy lunch and snacks to almost all its office employees daily. All crew members and shore-based employees are offered flu and covid vaccinations every October. Oldendorff has regular first aid courses for its registered first aiders in the office.
On-board our vessels we are also focused on the crew members well-being. Almost all of our vessels are equipped with Starlink highspeed internet so our seafarers can communicate easily with their families and friends. There are also sport facilities on all our vessels including a fitness room and sometimes even a basketball court or a swimming pool.
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
We continuously promote the maritime industry as an attractive career for those entering the job market and those looking for new challenges by way of a career change .
In 2015, we were awarded the ‘Excellence in Manpower Training and Development Award’ by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
Oldendorff has a strong cadet program for about 150 seafarers. We believe that the performance of our future officers is directly connected to the success of our cadet training program. We expect about 100 cadets to get their Certificate of Competency (CoC) annually.
After obtaining the CoC, they are offered a position as Officer trainees (or Junior Officer / Engineer / Electrician). Subject to their performance they will be promoted and offered their first assignments as 3rd Officer, 3rd Engineer or Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) thereafter.
Oldendorff Carriers sponsors a comprehensive bilingual education programme for children from preschool through to high school. The bilingual teaching is done using the “Immersion” method. The bilingual teaching is effectively complemented by the use of native speakers during classes and in public all-day schools.
In 2023, Oldendorff was awarded the Handelskammer Hamburg for ‘Outstanding achievements in dual vocational training’.
Many of our employees began their careers by joining our comprehensive apprenticeship programme, which onboards new talent twice a year.
We are pleased that many employees continue their learning and development throughout their careers at Oldendorff Carriers.
In 2024, over 50% of our global employees have taken advantage of training and coaching to help develop their careers.
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Oldendorff is an equal opportunities employer that embraces those who are passionate about the shipping industry. Our colleagues hail from 60 different countries and speak 107 languages. We have a near-equal gender balance across our global offices.
Our Female Cadetship Program is designed to empower women in pursuing successful careers at sea. We are proud to see our female seafarers advance through the ranks onboard and remain committed to providing them with continious support, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and professional growth. We are continuously working on expanding our Empower Diversity Initiative, now with female seafarers from 18 countries serving in 13 ranks onboard.
Oldendorff is a member of the Diversity Study Group, an organization focused on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion int the workplace across the global shipping and maritime sectors.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
In 2018, we partnered with Erma First to equip our vessels with IMO and USCG-approved Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) to control the harmful effects of unwanted or invasive species being transported in ships’ ballast water.
The reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system has been installed across our entire fleet. This will replace approximately 6,000 plastic bottles per year per ship and if we do it across our fleet it will replace approximately 480,000 plastic bottles per year.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
Teamwork is our culture. Our bottom-up management empowers our 4,500 colleagues to achieve their potential – a winning formula for sustainable economical growth.
Oldendorff Carriers had 100% participation in annual employee reviews.
The reviews provide an opportunity for employees to discuss their developmental needs and potential training with their managers. In most cases annual reviews also provide an opportunity for employees to discuss their career path and goals.
In 2023, 51 colleagues relocated from one country to another to broaden their career and have a change in life experience.
Many of our employees began their careers by joining our comprehensive apprenticeship programme, which onboards new talent twice a year.
We are pleased that many employees continue their learning and development throughout their careers at Oldendorff Carriers.
In 2023, around 64% of our global employees have taken advantage of training and coaching to help develop their careers.
Oldendorff Carriers has a Guideline Against Workplace Harassment and a Whistleblower function on the website. Oldendorff also has regular Awareness Training sessions and Inside Oldendorff, which introduces and explains the function of each department to new joiners, making for a smooth start in the company.
Oldendorff Carriers has partnered with MTR to provide comprehensive digital training for the crew on our owned vessels. This flexible platform allows us to tailor training to future needs, ensuring continuous development and compliance.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
In 2024, we successfully installed and deployed Rotor Sails on one of our vessels, achieving a 10-15% reduction in fuel consumption on our transpacific route and lowering emissions.
Oldendorff Carriers has invested in cargo hold cleaning robots. Robots make cargo hold cleaning safer for crew, and reduce the need for chemicals.
The Oldendorff Research Center, established in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, is dedicated to driving innovative research and advancing sustainable shipping practices.
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
In 2021 we signed the IMPA ACT, an initiative of the International Marine Purchasing Association that encourages ship owners, ship operators, and ship suppliers to demonstrate a tangible commitment to responsible supply chain management and corporate social responsibility.
In 2019 Oldendorff Carriers started to equip our entire fleet of bulk carriers with efficient and environmentally friendly LED lights. The lifetime of LED bulbs is about 5 times longer compared with normal fluorescent bulbs. The use of LED’s will also reduce the electrical power requirement and consequently the emissions from each ship.
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Since 2014, we have ordered around 100 ‘eco’ vessels offering very low fuel consumption and a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
Many of our ships are equipped with ultra-long stroke main engines, with low engine speed and a lower rpm, allowing the use of larger propellers that are significantly more efficient in terms of propulsion. This reduces fuel consumption and resulting emissions.
Becker Mewis Ducts and rudder bulbs are power-saving devices featured on several of our ships. These result in a 5-8% combined energy efficiency gain. Mewis Ducts enhance the water flow to the propeller to increase thrust. Rudder bulbs change the hub vortex to streamline water flow behind the propeller.
In 2021, we began conducting trials with a 2nd generation biofuel containing used cooking oil (UCO) as its feedstock.
The voyage on the Kira Oldendorff was performed from Australia to Europe for BHP with biofuel bunkering carried out in Singapore. The results of the biofuel trial were published in The Royal Society of Chemistry magazine Sustainable Energy and Fuels. In 2022, we carried out a trial voyage on the Edwine Oldendorff from Australia to Vietnam using biofuel for the CBH Group, the largest agricultural co-operative in Western Australia.
Most of our owned fleet and some of our chartered vessels are fitted with an exhaust gas abatement system to minimize air emissions.
The exhaust gas abatement systems are designed, built and installed to the highest standards, and fully comply with Regulation MEPC.259(68) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Since 2015, we have been equipping our ships with performance monitoring systems to enable us to optimize voyages in real time. This reduces fuel consumption and emissions.
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
After having conducted successful trials on board, we encourage our seafarers to use the Eyesea app, which collects observational pollution data to build comprehensive maps designed to inform and empower government and NGO environmental cleanup efforts.
In 2018, we partnered with Erma First to equip our vessels with IMO and USCG-approved Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) to control the harmful effects of unwanted or invasive species being transported in ships’ ballast water.
Oldendorff Carriers proudly participates in the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program, a regional collaborative initiative led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to reduce the impacts of commercial shipping on at-risk whales. Since 2017, we have been slowing down while transiting through key foraging areas of the endangered southern resident killer whales - helping to measurably reduce underwater noise and create: #QuieterOceansForHealthierWhales.
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Corruption stifles innovation and development. To help tackle the systemic root causes of corruption, we have joined the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN).
Oldendorff Carriers has an Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct which applies to all employees. All employees are required to follow the code of conduct and the law wherever we operate.
Our Global Partners
Collaborating with others is a valuable way in which to learn and share experiences so we are active members of a variety of leading associations driving sustainability and operational excellence in our industry.
As founding members of this cross-sectoral alliance, we advocate for the better and wider acceptance of emission abatement technology, the details of which are often misunderstood CSA provides science-based information and actively and regularly engages with maritime and environmental authorities around the world.
We are founding members of the Marine Environment Committee. Typical agenda items include reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, biofouling management and ballast water management.
The taskforce's mission is to optimize the ship-port interface with an open and pragmatic problem-solving agenda. At the heart of the project, is combining shipping and port services by improving quality and availability of master and event data which will deliver benefits to stakeholders while lowering GHG emissions.
Methanol is a clean-burning, biodegradable fuel. Increasingly, methanol's environmental and economic advantages are making it an attractive alternative fuel for powering ships. Oldendorff Joined as a member in 2021 to learn more about methanol and assess the overall feasibility of powering our vessels with this promising energy source.
The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network works to eliminate all forms of maritime corruption by; raising awareness of the challenges faced; implementing Anti-Corruption Principles and co-developing best practices; collaborating with stakeholders to identity and mitigate root causes of corruption and creating a culture of integrity within the maritime community.
Oldendorff Carriers are members of the AEA which promotes the use of ammonia in a sustainable energy economy. Oldendorff joined as a member in 2022 to better understand the feasibility of powering our vessels with this clean energy in the future.
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping is an independent, non-profit R&D center dedicated to decarbonizing global shipping. It unites top minds in science, engineering, and business from worldwide organizations to fast-track the development and adoption of new energy systems and technologies.
The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, is an association that represents the interests of owners, operators and managers within the dry cargo shipping industry.
Oldendorff stands amongst the Dry Bulk operators to be one of the first in adopting and implementing the Dry Bulk Management Standards (DryBMS). We are committed to improving operational standards and promoting best practices. The DryBMS framework is designed to reduce operational incidents, enhance performance, and drive maritime excellence.
Our Awards
Mercy Ship Award: Dry Bulk Trophy 2024
Green4Sea Dry Bulk Operator Award 2024 for leadership in promoting sustainability
Blue Circle Award Winner 2023
Handelskammer Hamburg award for outstanding achievements in dual vocational training - 2023
Blue Circle Award Winner 2022
Safety4Sea - Crew Welfare Dry Bulk Operator Award (for focusing on crew welfare, supporting social life onboard) 2022
Neptune Awards - The most Devoted Sustainability Promoter of the Year 2019
International Bulk Journal - Bulk Ship Operator of the Year 2019
Green Environmental Achievement Award- Port of Long Beach Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program
Handelskammer Hamburg Best Shipping Training Apprentice Award - 2017
International Bulk Journal - Bulk Ship Operator of the Year 2017
Largest Donation to Mercy Ships Cargo Day 2016
The Oldendorff Carriers Whistleblower System
Oldendorff Carriers is committed to provide an environment where Oldendorff Carriers’ standards and best practices are encouraged and safeguarded. The Oldendorff Carriers Whistleblower System provides safe access to reporting existing or potential violations of law and regulations, policies and guidelines, or other serious irregularities. The reporting can be done anonymously, or by name.
The Oldendorff Carriers Whistleblower System can be used by any person related to Oldendorff Carriers’ business environment. This includes its employees, auditors, consultants, suppliers, customers, employees onboard Oldendorff Carriers owned or operated vessels and other business partners.