Our History

• Gearbulk welcomes first female cadets onboard;
• Kumul Arrow is retired and replaced by a converted 5th Generation OHGC to continue transshipment operations in PNG;
• Gearbulk sells its interests in Arrow Terminals Inc. (ATI);
• Gearbulk launches Human Rights Policy to promote decent working conditions

Delivery of three Semi Open Hatch Vessels on medium-term time charter

• Hawk Arrow sold for recycling
• Ibis Arrow sold to GBSMT

• Renewed ISO 14001:2015 certification;
• Rakiura Maru, CHL Progressor and CHL Innovator re-delivered to owners;
• management of the Momi Arrow was transferred to Gearbulk when the 10 year LTTC contract expired and the charter period was renewed for an additional 10 years on bareboat terms.

Gearbulk celebrates its 50th anniversary on 31st August, 2018.

G2 Ocean joint venture between Gearbulk and Grieg Star goes live on May 1st, 2017. With a new HQ in Bergen, Norway, the company has a presence in 16 countries across six continents.

In total approximately 130 vessels are operated by the pool, including open hatch, ‘semi open’ and conventional bulk carriers.

Delivery of two ships for the conventional bulk fleet: Bulk Venus and Bulk Polaris.

Gearbulk Norway achieves ISO 14001:2015 in January.

New Plastics Policy is implemented across the organisation in June, aiming to reduce the need and use of plastics, improve recycling and create awareness amongst employees, suppliers and customers.

Establishes High Heat Tankers PTE Ltd. with Puma Energy on 15th July, 2015, with the commitment of four owned vessels into its pool of high heat, liquid pitch, bitumen and asphalt carriers.

Delivery of three ships in total for the conventional fleet: Bulk Aires, Bulk Carina & Bulk Hero.

Gearbulk signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Grieg Star, with the intention to form a Joint Venture to run both their fleets commercially and operationally.

Delivery of eight ships in total: three Fleximax III (Macaw Arrow, Tanchou Arrow and Siskin Arrow), one Flex II ECO (Lawin Arrow), three OSY56 (Matsu Arrow, Buna Arrow and Biwa Arrow), two NACKS60 (Acer Arrow and Betula Arrow) and one conventional bulk carrier (Bulk Aquila).

Tragic loss of Bulk Jupiter.

Fleet gains ISO 14001 environmental certification.

Delivery of ten ships in total: three Fleximax III (Macaw Arrow, Tanchou Arrow and Sisken Arrow), one Flex II ECO (Lawin Arrow), three OSY56 (Matsu Arrow, Buna Arrow and Biwa Arrow), two NACKS60 (Acer Arrow and Betula Arrow) and one conventional bulk carrier (Bulk Aquila).

Delivery of the first of four Fleximax III, Japin Arrow from Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Gearbulk office established in Manila.

Delivery of the first of four Fleximax III, Raven Arrow from Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Chiba.

Gearbulk Norway AS established to assume technical management of the ‘Gearbulk owned’ fleet.

Gearbulk receives its first certification to the ISO 14001 environmental standard.

Delivery of first of eight Fleximax II, Kiwi Arrow, from Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines increases its shareholding from 40% to 49%.

Delivery of first of four 6th Generation OHGC, Corella Arrow, from Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

The Jebsen family restructures ownership of its business interests and Kristian Jebsen takes control of the family shares in Gearbulk.

Delivery of first of eight Fleximax II, Kiwi Arrow, from Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Gearbulk diversifies into shore terminals. The first of several terminals is established in a joint venture in Sinor Terminal, Port of Tianjin.

Rhone is the first Gearbulk vessel to have retrofit hold tanks fitted to carry frozen concentrated orange juice.

Delivery of first of nine 5th Generation OHGC, Toucan Arrow, from Dalian New Shipyard.

Delivery of first of five Fleximax, Pine Arrow, from Stocznia Gdansk Shipyard.

Gearbulk receives its first certification to the IS0 9002 quality standard.

Gearbulk enters the liquid pitch business with Alouette Arrow on the North West Europe to St. Lawrence trade.

Gearbulk diversifies into shore terminals. The first of several terminals is established in a joint venture in Sinor Terminal, Port of Tianjin.

The company is incorporated in Bermuda as Gearbulk Holding Ltd. The Kristian Gerhard Jebsen family acquires its partners’ vessels and shares. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines takes a 25% share of the restructured Gearbulk, and then increases its share to 40%.

Delivery of first of three TEFC, Grouse Arrow, from Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Tamano.

After 10 years in operation and having processed 45 million tonnes, declining demand for cement prompts Gearbulk to diversify its floating terminal operations into fertiliser, grain, rice and metal concentrates.

Delivery of first 4th Generation OHGC, Heina, from Sanoyasu, Mizushima.

The first of nine floating cement processing terminals comes into operation. By 1982 they were handling 8.5 million tonnes per year, mainly in the Middle East.

Delivery of first of 16 3rd Generation OHGC, Falcon Arrow, from Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Chiba.

Delivery of first of 12 2nd Generation OHGC, Kiwi Arrow, from Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Osaka.