History
Fisser & v. Doornum was founded in Emden on the 02nd of October, 1879 as a Coal and timber trade company by Mr. Carl Fisser and Mr. Christoph van Doornum. Through the import of coal from Great Britain, as well as the import of timber from Scandinavia, the company came in contact with the shipping business for the first time. In the beginning of 1900, Mr. Carl Fisser obtained the interests of his partner, Mr. Christoph v. Doornum. His two sons, Konsul Hendrik and Dr. Carl Fisser took over the company in the second generation. They were the ones who laid the basis for the formation and the development of the shipping company "Fisser & v. Doornum" through the purchase of the 9.100 tdw "KONSUL CARL FISSER". In the course of time, further second-hand ships, between 1.700 and 9.000 tdw were bought and used for the coal trade. In the beginning of the thirties, ore from Norway and Sweden was added to their trade.1920's - 1930's
The first branch office was founded in Bremen in 1926 by the younger of the two brothers. A further branch was opened in 1938 under the name "Fisser & v. Doornum Shipping Company GmbH" in Hamburg where today, the head office of the group is located.
1940's - 1950's
At the outbreak of the second world war, the Fleet consisted of ten ships with a total capacity of 60.000 tdw. Beside the Ship Management and Chartering, already established in 1930, the Clearance and Stevedore division was incorporated. Both the connections with Rhein-Braun, today belonging to the RWE Group, as the first coal supplier in the trading area during the foundation of the company and Klöckner & Co. as Trade House and Steelworks for the Clearance and Stevedore as well as for the shipment of ore, held their significance over decades and impressively emphasized the long term business philosophy of our company.
During the war, eight ships of the consisting fleet were lost. At the end of the war in 1945 another five new vessels, delivered and paid in 1944 were handed over to the British people. Until 1948/49 there was no positive change as Germany was not allowed to buy or to build any vessels. Alternatively and in order to survive, the company established a forwarding agency with trucks.
In October 1949 they started to rebuild the shipping company through the purchase of the third "MARTHA HENDRIK FISSER" and the subsequent modernisation and overhaul at the Thyssen Nordseewerke. The first new vessel, the "HENDRIK FISSER" with 3.600 tdw was then handed over in 1950.
South Africa was added to the trading area with the shipment of phosphate in 1955. Apart from this and the traditional trades, the vessels of the shipping company were transporting iron ore from Australia to Shanghai for the local steel industry.
1960's - 1970's
The years of the sixties were marked through the entry of the third generation by Dr. Frank Fisser and his establishment of a liner agency. The agency represented the OOCL, the Sovcomoflot as well as the East German Shipping Company DSR and the Algerian CNAN. Additionally the relationship to the Netherlands were reinforced and represented the Nedlloyd group over KNSM, as well as van Ommeren, partly up to joint ventures.
This decade was also marked by expansion through the purchase of second hand tonnage and 16 new buildings. The old units of the fleet were replaced and in 1962 the fleet consisted of a combined lifting capacity of 140.000 tons, in the size of 2.000 up to 15.000 tdw.
Klöckner & Co. joined the company with a 50% partnership. At that time, Fisser & v. Doornum exclusively managed all the overseas in- & export of iron ore and steel for the Klöckner company. Apart from this, Fisser ran two 34.000 ore vessels in full management for the Klöckner company and Dr. Frank Fisser was appointed by them as director, responsible for their Rhine River fleet.
The company expanded it's agency and shipping management activities to Norway, Sweden, Egypt, USA, Canada, Yugoslavia and Greece and it's crew management sector to Yugoslavia, Korea and the Philippines. During this time, brand new business areas were incorporated in Germany. For example the textile wholesale trade, especially for the government authority, and the expansion into the tourism branch by the founding of their own travel agency.
In the beginning of the seventies, Fisser & v. Doornum together with partners started a program of building 10 new vessels of 6.000 tdw in the Netherlands. With these vessels one of the first pools was founded and managed by Fisser & v. Doornum.
The activities during these days also included the shipment of cars to America and from Brazil. The South African trade grew more important and together with their client SAB, the first bulk malt shipments were developed. This was a novelty for the malt shipping world wide. The business relations with the South African Breweries now SAB/Miller still continues up to the present.
At the end of the seventies, a further series of 17 ships á 2.000 tdw were contracted under the leadership of Fisser & v. Doornum in Japan.
They were built at four different shipyards and ended with the establishment of a new affiliated company regarding the sale of spare parts for Japanese engines. This company has been run in participation with a partner from the repairing sector and is now one of the leading companies in spare part supplies for Japanese marine diesel engines with her own stock in Europe.
In the technical management area, the fleet grew up to 45 ships between 2.000 and 120.000 tdw., maintaining a capesize-bulker, a panamax as well as a 40.000 tons handysize conbulker, 5 x 15.000 tdw tweendecker.
1980's - 1990's
During the eighties, an exclusive malt shipment for the Polar Group in Venezuela was started and the trading area was served with vessel's of up to 8.000 tdw, which were contracted into a line of ten at the end of 1979. Under the guidance of Fisser and v. Doornum, these vessels were again managed in a pool together with three other partners.
With the delivery of two new 4.500 tdw chemical tankers with 24 tanks, Fisser & v. Doornum entered into the chemical tanker sector.
Near the end of the eighties, the Fisser Family was able to re-obtain the 100 % control over their interests in the shipping and tourism services, represented by Fisser & v. Doornum.
After the death of Dr. Frank Fisser, both sons, Dr. Michael Fisser and Mr. Christian Fisser, took over the management of Fisser & v. Doornum in the fourth generation. This resulted in the change from a patriarchal to a modern team management business, retaining the traditional business values like reliability and service for our customers. Today, this is still the philosophy of Fisser & v. Doornum.
In the beginning of the nineties, the front portions of three sister vessels of the fleet, as well as all the other sister vessels running in this 6.000 tons Pool were completely rebuilt.
At the end of the nineties, the last contracted new ship building was purchased under Fisser & v. Doornum in China. What at first started with a 6 plus 6 option, meaning 12 container feeder vessels in the size up to 380 TEU, developed into a 16 new ship building series. With these type of vessels, Fisser and v. Doornum started operating in the container market.
Five of these vessels are presently under the technical management of Fisser & v. Doornum. Fastbox GmbH, a 100% affiliated company, commercially managing these kind of vessels in a pool which is also open for other parties.
2000 till present
In August 2001, IC Shipmanagement Ltd., located in Limassol, Cyprus was founded as a member of the Fisser Group.
The Shipping Company, including all the vessels being managed, are ISM certified through Germanischer Lloyd.
South Africa was added to the trading area with the shipment of phosphate in 1955. Apart from this and the traditional trades, the vessels of the shipping company were transporting iron ore from Australia to Shanghai for the local steel industry.
1960's - 1970's
The years of the sixties were marked through the entry of the third generation by Dr. Frank Fisser and his establishment of a liner agency. The agency represented the OOCL, the Sovcomoflot as well as the East German Shipping Company DSR and the Algerian CNAN. Additionally the relationship to the Netherlands were reinforced and represented the Nedlloyd group over KNSM, as well as van Ommeren, partly up to joint ventures.
This decade was also marked by expansion through the purchase of second hand tonnage and 16 new buildings. The old units of the fleet were replaced and in 1962 the fleet consisted of a combined lifting capacity of 140.000 tons, in the size of 2.000 up to 15.000 tdw.
Klöckner & Co. joined the company with a 50% partnership. At that time, Fisser & v. Doornum exclusively managed all the overseas in- & export of iron ore and steel for the Klöckner company. Apart from this, Fisser ran two 34.000 ore vessels in full management for the Klöckner company and Dr. Frank Fisser was appointed by them as director, responsible for their Rhine River fleet.
The company expanded it's agency and shipping management activities to Norway, Sweden, Egypt, USA, Canada, Yugoslavia and Greece and it's crew management sector to Yugoslavia, Korea and the Philippines. During this time, brand new business areas were incorporated in Germany. For example the textile wholesale trade, especially for the government authority, and the expansion into the tourism branch by the founding of their own travel agency.
In the beginning of the seventies, Fisser & v. Doornum together with partners started a program of building 10 new vessels of 6.000 tdw in the Netherlands. With these vessels one of the first pools was founded and managed by Fisser & v. Doornum.
The activities during these days also included the shipment of cars to America and from Brazil. The South African trade grew more important and together with their client SAB, the first bulk malt shipments were developed. This was a novelty for the malt shipping world wide. The business relations with the South African Breweries now SAB/Miller still continues up to the present.
At the end of the seventies, a further series of 17 ships á 2.000 tdw were contracted under the leadership of Fisser & v. Doornum in Japan.
They were built at four different shipyards and ended with the establishment of a new affiliated company regarding the sale of spare parts for Japanese engines. This company has been run in participation with a partner from the repairing sector and is now one of the leading companies in spare part supplies for Japanese marine diesel engines with her own stock in Europe.
In the technical management area, the fleet grew up to 45 ships between 2.000 and 120.000 tdw., maintaining a capesize-bulker, a panamax as well as a 40.000 tons handysize conbulker, 5 x 15.000 tdw tweendecker.
1980's - 1990's
During the eighties, an exclusive malt shipment for the Polar Group in Venezuela was started and the trading area was served with vessel's of up to 8.000 tdw, which were contracted into a line of ten at the end of 1979. Under the guidance of Fisser and v. Doornum, these vessels were again managed in a pool together with three other partners.
With the delivery of two new 4.500 tdw chemical tankers with 24 tanks, Fisser & v. Doornum entered into the chemical tanker sector.
Near the end of the eighties, the Fisser Family was able to re-obtain the 100 % control over their interests in the shipping and tourism services, represented by Fisser & v. Doornum.
After the death of Dr. Frank Fisser, both sons, Dr. Michael Fisser and Mr. Christian Fisser, took over the management of Fisser & v. Doornum in the fourth generation. This resulted in the change from a patriarchal to a modern team management business, retaining the traditional business values like reliability and service for our customers. Today, this is still the philosophy of Fisser & v. Doornum.
In the beginning of the nineties, the front portions of three sister vessels of the fleet, as well as all the other sister vessels running in this 6.000 tons Pool were completely rebuilt.
At the end of the nineties, the last contracted new ship building was purchased under Fisser & v. Doornum in China. What at first started with a 6 plus 6 option, meaning 12 container feeder vessels in the size up to 380 TEU, developed into a 16 new ship building series. With these type of vessels, Fisser and v. Doornum started operating in the container market.
Five of these vessels are presently under the technical management of Fisser & v. Doornum. Fastbox GmbH, a 100% affiliated company, commercially managing these kind of vessels in a pool which is also open for other parties.
2000 till present
In August 2001, IC Shipmanagement Ltd., located in Limassol, Cyprus was founded as a member of the Fisser Group.
The Shipping Company, including all the vessels being managed, are ISM certified through Germanischer Lloyd.