Southern Star Shipping has hired a former Oldendorff senior executive to enter the "next phase of growth in the dry bulk shipping sector," the New York bulker operator has announced.

The John Coumantaros-led company has tapped Oldendorff North America managing director Nathan Dworak to expand its global shipping activities.

"Our organisation is committed to expanding our footprint in the industry not only through expanding and modernising the asset base we work with but also by growing our offering to the global marketplace in providing a first-class commodity transportation service to a broad global customer base," Coumantaros said.