Talks to find the right partner for the shipping activities of Norddeutsche Vermogen Group are designed to secure the future of the German containership owner, says founder and chairman Bernd Kortum.

Its shipmanagement division, Norddeutsche Reederei H Schuldt, came close last year to forming a partnership with a number of companies, including Reederei Claus-Peter Offen.

Now, a number of fresh offers are on the table that are being studied by group management together with advisors in Boston Consulting Group.