Martin Harren ditched a promising career as a surgeon in 2003 to join his father, Peter, in running one of Germany’s most diversified shipping companies, Harren & Partner Group.

Since then, the company’s managing director has been pivotal in looking for funding to retain the outfit’s boxship fleet and expand its position in the heavylift and product tanker segments.

This year, the Bremen-based outfit celebrates 30 years in business, operating a fleet of about 70 heavylift and multipurpose (MPP) vessels, tankers, containerships, barges and tugs.