May 21 | 2019
Grool Replaces Stack, interim CEO
Zeaborn Ship Management has appointed Rob Grool as CEO, replacing Holger Strack, who has been in the role on an interim basis since the beginning of the year.
“Rob has an excellent industry network, possesses extensive know-how in all areas of ship management and operations, as well as international expertise and many years of leadership experience," said Jan-Hendrik Többe and Ove Meyer, managing partners of the Zeaborn Group, in a joint statement. "He is renowned for managing clients’ vessels with an owner’s view.”
Bringing 39 years of experience in the sector, Grool started as a marine engineer before moving up to hold executive positions as managing director and board member of companies in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. He holds a Master of Science in Maritime and Transport Technology from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
The partners said Strack will stay within the broader Zech group, moving his focus to different operational areas.
Ship Management Offering Strengthens
Grool's appointment will build on Zeaborn's consolidation efforts in the ship management sector and follows the launch of a single brand in 2018, bringing together its Rickmers Shipmanagement and E.R. Schiffahrt subsidiaries. In 2019, the group entered the tanker ship management sector with the acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei, or CPO Tankers, from CPO Group.
“With the acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei, we have set the course for Zeaborn Ship Management as a full-service provider in the ship management sector. Together with Rob, we want to work towards a strategic goal of expanding our managed fleet to more than 250 vessels,” Zeaborn’s managing partners added.
Headquartered in Bremen in the north of Germany, Zeaborn Ship Management offers full range ship management activities from locations in Germany, Singapore, Cyprus, Philippines and Romania. Parent company Zeaborn Group is a global, integrated shipping company founded by Kurt Zech, Ove Meyer and Jan-Hendrik Többe in 2013, and operates a combined fleet of around 50 multipurpose vessels.
Verifavia, KR to Certify 100 Vessels
As further evidence of Zeaborn’s strengthening position in the ship management sector, the group also said it had contracted Verifavia Shipping and the Korean Register to perform Inventory of Hazardous Materials preparation and certification for more than 100 vessels.
“We need partners that are knowledgeable, responsive, and reliable – and we trust that the combined Korean Register and Verifavia team can effectively support us as we strive to meet these regulatory requirements and deadlines,” said Thiemo Ullrich, senior vice president projects and performance, Zeaborn Ship Management.
“Rob has an excellent industry network, possesses extensive know-how in all areas of ship management and operations, as well as international expertise and many years of leadership experience," said Jan-Hendrik Többe and Ove Meyer, managing partners of the Zeaborn Group, in a joint statement. "He is renowned for managing clients’ vessels with an owner’s view.”
Bringing 39 years of experience in the sector, Grool started as a marine engineer before moving up to hold executive positions as managing director and board member of companies in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. He holds a Master of Science in Maritime and Transport Technology from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
The partners said Strack will stay within the broader Zech group, moving his focus to different operational areas.
Ship Management Offering Strengthens
Grool's appointment will build on Zeaborn's consolidation efforts in the ship management sector and follows the launch of a single brand in 2018, bringing together its Rickmers Shipmanagement and E.R. Schiffahrt subsidiaries. In 2019, the group entered the tanker ship management sector with the acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei, or CPO Tankers, from CPO Group.
“With the acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei, we have set the course for Zeaborn Ship Management as a full-service provider in the ship management sector. Together with Rob, we want to work towards a strategic goal of expanding our managed fleet to more than 250 vessels,” Zeaborn’s managing partners added.
Headquartered in Bremen in the north of Germany, Zeaborn Ship Management offers full range ship management activities from locations in Germany, Singapore, Cyprus, Philippines and Romania. Parent company Zeaborn Group is a global, integrated shipping company founded by Kurt Zech, Ove Meyer and Jan-Hendrik Többe in 2013, and operates a combined fleet of around 50 multipurpose vessels.
Verifavia, KR to Certify 100 Vessels
As further evidence of Zeaborn’s strengthening position in the ship management sector, the group also said it had contracted Verifavia Shipping and the Korean Register to perform Inventory of Hazardous Materials preparation and certification for more than 100 vessels.
“We need partners that are knowledgeable, responsive, and reliable – and we trust that the combined Korean Register and Verifavia team can effectively support us as we strive to meet these regulatory requirements and deadlines,” said Thiemo Ullrich, senior vice president projects and performance, Zeaborn Ship Management.
