HS Schiffahrt shipping company is conitinuing the successful tradition of the Schepers family in the maritime industry now in fifth generation.
1885
1913
1953
1960
1975
1984
1995
2000
2002
2004
2009
2016
2021
1885
Captain Heinrich Schepers (*1858) on Dec. 10th 1885 acquired the tjalk “MARIA” which sank during a severe storm off Norderney in 1889. All crew members died at sea.
1913
His son, Captain Bernhard Schepers (*1887) with the acquisition of the iron sailing vessel “MARIA ELISE” in 1913 followed in his father’s footsteps. The ship was later converted into a motor sailor.
1953
As was customary in Haren, his son Heinrich Schepers (father of the shipping company owners) at the age of 14 years also turned to the seafaring profession. In 1953, he obtained his Captain’s Certificate at the NavalSchool in Leer. Captain Heinrich Schepers in 1954 took over his father’s “MARIA ELISE”.
60er Jahre
The Schepers family commissioned the “BERNHARD SCHEPERS” (1960) and the “HELENA SCHEPERS” (1965). With his many tasks as private shipper, Captain Heinrich Schepers was of course supported by his wife, Maria Schepers, nez. Held, both ashore as well as on board by obtaining the C-Mot-Engine Certificate. She, as well, originates from an old Haren seafaring family. Her father Johann Held had already sailed the Baltic and the North Sea with the motor sailor “MARGARETHA”.
70er Jahre
Captain Heinrich Schepers made the transition to today’s forms of ship investment. Together with Captain Bernhard Lohmann (MV STEPHAN) and Captain Laurenz Held (MV JAN LAURENZ), the Ems-Trans shipping company was founded in 1978, and in 1985 the Ems-Fracht shipping company.
80er Jahre
Hans-Bernd and Heino, the two sons of Captain Heinrich Schepers, already in their early years showed keen interest in maritime affairs. On their parents’ vessel “HELENA SCHEPERS “, they learned and appreciated the diversity of the maritime profession. It was therefore natural to turn to the shipping industry. Their father placed great emphasis on the skills for this profession and enabled extensive training for them.
90er Jahre
With the new buildings “EMSTAL” (1995) and “RHEINTAL” (1996), the transition was made from bulk and general cargo shipping to ship management for modern container tonnage.
2000
In April 2000, the second-hand ship “SEA EMS” was purchased. In February 2001, the acquisition of the identical sister ship “JOHANNA” followed. Both vessels were employed in European coastal trade. With the acquisition of the feeder vessel “MARIA SCHEPERS”, it was a successful transition to container shipping.
2002
In January 2002, Oliver Schepers strengthened the team of HS Schiffahrt as ship operations technician. He was already as superintendent able to acquire extensive technical know-how for rectifying disruption of vessel operations as quickly as possible. At the same time, the HS Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG shipping company was founded. The multipurpose freighter “EMS” was taken over in August of 2002.
2004
The shipping company’s fleet, following the sale of “EMS” and “SEA WAAL” in 2004, currently includes a multipurpose freighter and three container vessels that were purchased as second-hand vessels. The focus of further shipping company activities will be the container feeder business. Great emphasis is given to the personal care of the vessels and a tonnage range from 2,000 to 5,400 dwt is covered.
2009
The professional requirements to run a modern shipping company are given by the management. Captain Hans-Bernd Schepers covers mainly the nautical part of the fleet, while Dipl. Kfm. Heino Schepers is in charge of the commercial part of the company. Ship engineer Oliver Schepers strengthened the team of HS Schiffahrt until the end of 2009
2016
On 14.12.2016 Captain Heinrich Schepers died. Up to his sudden death he was an esteemd conversational partner and consultant for his sons with decades of maritime experience.
Aktuell
With a fleet of 50 modern merchant ships and around 625 employees on land and on board, the brothers have established HS Schiffahrt today as a successful and innovative player in the industry.