Leonhardt Blumberg, Buss Shipping Merge Ship Management Activities

Leonhardt & Blumberg German shipping companies Leonhardt & Blumberg Reederei and Buss Shipping have decided to merge their ship management activities in an effort to achieve greater synergies. The new joint venture company will be called Leonhardt & Blumberg Shipmanagement. The jointly managed fleet will consist of 55 ships with a focus on the container feeder segment and an average ship age of eight years. Until the completion of the merger, Leonhardt & Blumberg and Buss Shipping will continue to operate as separate entities, Buss Shipping said in a statement. Founded in 1903, Leonhardt & Blumberg is a charter owner of Handysize containerships. The company owns a fleet of more than 30 vessels. Buss Shipping was founded in 2009 to expand Buss Groups business areas to ship owning and ship management. The companys fleet is comprised of 17 vessels and two newbuildings slated for delivery in late-2017.