Klaus Oldendorff would have loved to have focused solely on tankers, but he always recognised the need to diversify into other market segments, says managing director Kurt Klemme.

Hence, the company’s fleet now also includes boxships and bulkers.

But Reederei Nord has also been aware of the need to have sufficient mass in individual markets to be recognised, says Klemme, who remembers a meeting a long time ago with boxships giant Maersk Line, which asked "what is the name of your company?"

“They said ‘10 containerships, you are not relevant to us’.