BREB GmbH & Co. KG is a world-class shipping company with a stellar reputation. From ship owning and chartering to logistics and port agency, the company has developed a diverse range of services that continues to meet the everchanging needs of the industry. Now, as the world looks to make greener choices, the company is investing in its fleet to reflect this philosophy. Managing Director Captain Arne Ehlers explained more, during an in-depth interview with Inside Marine. Report by Imogen Ward.
Operating from its headquarters at the Port of Cuxhaven in Lower Saxony, Germany, BREB GmbH & Co KG has experienced a wealth of success over the years.
The latest of which involves going green.
“In more recent times, BREB has diversified its capabilities by entering the offshore wind energy market,” explained Managing Director Captain Arne Ehlers. “To cope with the increasing demand from this sector, we have made several key investments.”
First and foremost, the company has established a new division dedicated to this segment of the market. BREB’s new Port and Offshore Services division will
become a pivotal part of its work within the wind energy sector. Based at BREB’s joint- venture terminal with Danish Blue Water Shipping at the Port of Cuxhaven, which also happens to be Germany’s biggest hub for wind energy components, the new division will provide key services to the ports of Germany, including logistics, administration and customs.
“Around 80 per cent of all rotor blades installed in Germany enter the country via Cuxhaven, making it the ideal location for our new Port and Offshore Services division,” said Captain Ehlers. “The new division is headed by Andreas Krause, who is well known in the industry with more than 30 years’ experience to his name.
He brings a lot of expertise to the role, which has already had a positive impact on the department’s operations. Based in Cuxhaven, he also firmly believes that the Baltic Sea region – and especially BREB’s branch office in Sassnitz – holds immense potential for growths and innovation.
“So far, we have had some great success with major players at Cuxhaven, Sassnitz and other surrounding ports, so we anticipate positive growth in 2025.”
A reliable home
The Port of Cuxhaven has been a supportive base for BREB over the years, and a great place for the company to grow its presence within offshore wind. Now, keen to advance its own market-leading position, the port is gearing up for an expansion of its own – one that BREB is taking part in.
An additional 360,000 square metres of heavy-duty logistics space will be added to the port thanks to a €300 million investment
“We provide our customers with a holistic approach to their challenges, and we are always open to support them in whatever ways we can”
by port operators, the State of Saxony and the federal government. Once complete, this expansion will add three new berths to the port, which will help further solidify its pivotal position as an offshore and onshore wind hub.
“We have been awarded the right to operate from the new berths once they are up and running, which also means we have to provide a portion of the project funds,” explained Captain Ehlers. “This is
quite a unique investment opportunity as the federal government would normally cover the entirety of the funding, however a new plan was devised following long discussions, that meant the federal government would only cover a portion of the project funding, with the rest being provided by the State of Lower Saxony and the private port operators who will utilise the facilities.”
The entire project is expected to be completed by 2028 and will see the port operator’s terminal become the largest, most modern offshore wind port terminal on the German North Sea.
A greener fleet
While this expansion is incredibly exciting for BREB, it is just one of the green projects it is currently involved with. The company’s commitment to being a strong presence within
the offshore wind energy sector inspired it to do more to ensure its own fleet of vessels reflected a greener vision.
Last year, BREB announced it would be adding four new multipurpose dry cargo vessels to its fleet – each of which have been designed by Groot Ship Design with consideration to the environment.
As BREB’s largest newbuild project to date, these vessels are designed to operate as efficiently as possible and are expected to improve the company’s carbon footprint significantly. Subject to state funding, the new vessels will each feature Econowind’s VentoFoil systems, which offer wind-assisted ship propulsion.
“This modern tonnage will be crucial in our journey to zero emissions,” revealed Captain Ehlers. “The vessels are already optimised to ensure fuel consumption is at a minimum, using just 4.2 tonnes of
fuel a day. And if we are granted state funding for the VentoFoil systems, then we can reduce that even further to about 3.75 tonnes.”
The new vessels will have a gross deadweight of 5,200 tonnes, a top speed of 10.5 knots and will run on MGO and HVOs while being methanol-ready (in preparation for future fuel advancements). In line with its desire to re-enter the Baltic and North seas, the company has also ensured these vessels are built to align with the highest ice class.
Approved expansion
The company originates from the Baltic and North seas. However, it since branched out into the Mediterranean, leaving its work here behind. BREB is eager to reconnect with its origins and reestablish its presence in these northern waters.
“We see a lot of potential in these regions, and we want to be sure we are ready to
re-enter the market when the time is right,” continued Captain Ehlers. “Once we do, we expect our growth trajectory to be one that is gradual yet steady.”
In the meantime, BREB intends to continue balancing its time between the offshore wind industry and cargo shipping. Following several rocky years within the maritime industry, the company is committed to securing a stable future, with diversification as a central strategy.
“We provide our customers with a holistic approach to their challenges, and we are always open to support them in whatever ways we can,” said Captain Ehlers, in conclusion. “We remain strong in both bulk cargo shipping and the offshore wind industry, and we intend to keep it that way. This diversity is key to our future success, as it will enable us to ride out any potential market volatility.” n
