HENNING Oldendorff is probably still one of the most quietly influential people in the dry bulk shipping industry.

He has been at the helm of Oldendorff Carriers, the largest privately owned owner and operator of bulkers in Europe, for almost 40 years.

His father Egon founded the company in 1921 and plans are already being discussed to mark the centenary year.

As of October 2019, the Germany-based company operated 712 ships for a total of 62m dwt and an average age of eight years. Of that, 167 vessels are owned or bareboat chartered.

Oldendorff has 31 newbuildings on order, comprising two kamsarmaxes, which are due for delivery this year.

In 2020, it is expecting delivery of nine newcastlemaxes, three capesizes, as well as three post-panamaxes. Six kamsarmaxes and three ultramaxes are also scheduled to be completed.

As of end-October, the company is expecting two newcastlemaxes and one post-panamax to be delivered in 2021. 

Two transloaders have also been ordered, scheduled for delivery in 2021 and in 2022.

Mr Oldendorff, who worked at shipbrokers in London, New York and San Francisco, enjoys dabbling in the sales and purchase market, concluding 23 deals with three Chinese leasing companies in the 12 months to June this year.

He also sold three self-unloaders that were operating in the CSL pool. 

The billionaire shipowner sits on the board and is one of two main shareholders at Maritime & Merchant bank in Oslo, which was set up in late 2016 and started operations in early 2017.

He is concerned about reducing the company's carbon footprint and has decided to switch to LED lighting on the company's vessels.

Oldendorff has also chosen to fit electric propulsion systems on two of the new bulkers being built at the Chengxi yard in China and set for delivery in 2021. 

Mr Oldendorff also appeared in the Top 100 in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.