Johann M. K. Blumenthal

Johann M. K. Blumenthal is a German shipping company (Reederei) headquartered in Hamburg-Altona. It was founded in June 1901 by Johann M. K. Blumenthal and Hans Böse as Blumenthal & Böse, making it one of the oldest shipping companies in Germany. The company grew into one of the largest tramp shipping companies of its time. Its ships were lost during World War II, and after the war the company was rebuilt by Blumenthal's grandson, Hans-Edwin Reith. In mid-2005, following the separation of the Reith brothers, the company was re-established when the joint company "Orion" Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft Reith & Co. was split into "Orion" Bulkers and Reederei Johann M. K. Blumenthal. The two companies have operated separately since then. As of early 2013, the company operated a fleet of around thirty bulk carriers of various sizes and one container ship. The fleet includes both second-hand freighters and vessels ordered from shipyards in Germany, Japan, Korea, and China. The company has been involved in several notable incidents: in April 2009 its ship Patriot was hijacked by pirates off the East African coast and released in May 2009; in 2018 the freighter Comet was detained in the Ukrainian port of Mariupol and 3,000 tons of metal cargo originating from a facility in the separatist-controlled Luhansk People's Republic were confiscated because trade with separatists is prohibited by Ukraine; and in March 2019 the bulk carrier Anna-Elisabeth was temporarily detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Port Kembla following crew complaints about working conditions on board.

The shipping company Johann M. K. Blumenthal was founded in June 1901 by Johann M. K. Blumenthal and Hans Böse as Blumenthal & Böse. It is thus one of the oldest shipping companies in Germany. The company developed into one of the largest tramp shipping companies of its time. The company's ships were lost during World War II. After the war, Blumenthal's grandson, Hans-Edwin Reith, rebuilt the company. In mid-2005, following the separation of the Reith brothers, the joint company "Orion" Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft Reith & Co. was split into "Orion" Bulkers and Reederei Johann M. K. Blumenthal. The two companies have operated separately since then. As of early 2013, the company operated a fleet of around thirty bulk carriers of various sizes and one container ship. The fleet consists of both second-hand freighters and ships ordered by the company from shipyards in Germany, Japan, Korea, and China. In April 2009, the company's ship Patriot was hijacked by pirates off the East African coast; the ship was released in May 2009. In 2018, the freighter Comet was detained in the Ukrainian port of Mariupol and 3,000 tons of metal cargo originating from a facility in the separatist-controlled Luhansk People's Republic were confiscated because trade with separatists is prohibited by Ukraine. In March 2019, the bulk carrier Anna-Elisabeth was temporarily detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Port Kembla after crew complaints about working conditions on board.

• 2019

  Bulk carrier Anna-Elisabeth temporarily detained by Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Port Kembla in March.

• 2018

  Freighter Comet detained in Mariupol, Ukraine; 3,000 tons of metal cargo confiscated.

• 2013

  Fleet consisted of around thirty bulk carriers and one container ship as of early 2013.

• 2009

  Ship Patriot hijacked by pirates off East African coast in April; released in May.

• 2005

  Joint company "Orion" Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft Reith & Co. split into "Orion" Bulkers and Reederei Johann M. K. Blumenthal following separation of the Reith brothers.

• 1945

  Ships lost during World War II; company rebuilt after the war by Hans-Edwin Reith, grandson of Blumenthal.

• 1901

  Company founded in June 1901 by Johann M. K. Blumenthal and Hans Böse as Blumenthal & Böse.

One of the oldest German shipping companies, historically a major tramp shipping operator, now operating a modern bulk carrier fleet.

• Bulk carriers

  Around thirty bulk carriers of various sizes, including second-hand and newbuild vessels.

• Container ship

  One container ship operated as part of the fleet.

1. 1Wikidata: Johann M. K. Blumenthalwikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (German): Johann M. K. Blumenthalde.wikipedia.org