About Us
120+ shipping professionals serving the shipping industry since 1905.
Frachtcontor Junge was founded in Hamburg in 1905. Today, we are Germany’s leading shipbroker with a team of 120+ shipping professionals operating globally from more than 10 office locations. Our integrated services for the maritime industry and our collaboration across the group enable us to deliver efficient, optimized, and innovative solutions.
We strive to scale a positive impact on our planet while guiding our clients on a steady path to growth.
Each member of our team brings unique skills, experience, dedication, and ambition to deliver sustainable maritime success for our clients – it’s our purpose. Together, we navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and strive to make meaningful impacts in a world of change.
Our people
Our Culture
We help our clients set the course for sustainable maritime success.
See how it works with our quality, safety, and compliance policy formulated to enable the company to outlive its purpose here:
Our management is responsible for the company’s quality, safety, and compliance policy ensuring that all offices within the group implement and adhere to the policy as laid down.
Aligned with our historical legacy, and purpose, we have set ambitious targets within the following categories:
- Maintaining high customer satisfaction.
- Consolidating and expanding our strong market position.
- Reducing failures and risks in our working procedures.
- Keeping our employees satisfied and qualified.
- Ensuring a safe working environment through a risk-reduction policy.
- Consideration of existing and upcoming client needs and requirements.
- Compliance with legal regulations, customer instructions, and own definitions.
- Executing zero tolerance towards bribes, fraud, or any other form of corruption.
- Promoting and respecting human rights at work.
- Preserving the environment and enhancing environmental awareness.
- Securing privacy, confidentiality, and data protection.
- Planning and optimization of processes regarding our services rendered.
- Proactive attention to the latest market developments and technical innovations.
Our company is paying particular attention to working with suppliers who respect both human rights and the environment, throughout their value chain.
The management team ensures that this quality, safety & compliance policy will be announced, understood, implemented, and maintained throughout the entire group, and it obligates itself to guide and guard the execution of the intention of the management system.
By implementing the QM/SHE-system (DNV) ISO 9001:2015, (DNV) ISO 45001:2018, (SGS) GMP+ B4, along with this policy, the management aims to ensure that customers’ requirements and the services provided are consistently met with the highest assurance of quality, without giving rise to objections.
As an experienced leader within the maritime industry, we take on the responsibility to modernise our sector while providing our clients with valuable, sustainable solutions.
Our values guide our daily work and inspire us to stay true to who we are and who we want to be tomorrow.
- Our power is our people
We prioritize the well-being, health, and safety of our people, and we are devoted to creating a diverse and collaborative environment where all employees feel valued, respected, comfortable, and encouraged to grow. - Reliability & Transparency since 1905
We are committed to trust and transparency, which serves as the cornerstone of our business and all our audited processes. - With experience comes responsibility
We lead by example, striving for sustainability in all our actions, and dedicating ourselves to building long-lasting relationships based on experience, respect, and integrity.
We are in the process of accelerating our efforts to support the green transition of the maritime industry, continuously enhancing our positive impact on the environment, society, and the lives we affect.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
We support the SDGs and primarily focus on sustainability ambitions across below six main sectors in our intent to help drive shipping’s decarbonization:
2023 IMO GHG Strategy
We are committed to supporting the revised IMO 2023 GHG strategy which aims to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 50 % by 2050 compared to 2008, with a commitment to adopt alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030 and indicative checkpoints for 2030 and 2040.
We are committed to quality, safety, health, reliability, and transparency.
The health, safety, and well-being of our employees, along with the quality of our services, are our top priorities. To demonstrate the group’s continued commitment to responsible stewardship, we hold and maintain the following certifications from DNV and SGS:
- (DNV) ISO 9001:2015: Certification for quality management has been held since 1996.
- (DNV) ISO 45001:2018: Certification for health and safety has been held since 2020.
- (SGS) GMP+ B4: Certification for feed safety has been held since January 2024.
Furthermore, we were awarded the EcoVadis sustainability badge for our commitment to responsible business practices and focus on social and environmental concerns in April 2024. We are proud to be among the top 16 % for our sustainability performance and top 26 % of companies rated in ‘Other Transportation Support Activities Industry’ and will continuously improve and further advance and strengthen our commitment to sustainability.
Memberships
We are active members of FONASBA (The Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers & Agents), BIMCO (The Baltic and International Maritime Council) and the Association of German Shipbrokers.
Leadership
Embracing openness, diversity and a flat hierarchy, our leadership team sets the strategic direction, encourages collaboration, and ensures that the company is adaptable, and prepared for resilient growth for generations to come.
Jens Mahnke, CEO
Jens Mahnke, CEO
Jens Mahnke joined Frachtcontor in 2024. He is a highly skilled shipping executive with a wealth of experience from his previous positions as dry cargo chartering broker at Skaarup Shipping in Hamburg and New York, Chartering Manager in tanker markets at Frachtcontor, Managing Director of the shipbroker Harper Petersen & Co, Managing Partner at Nordcapital Group, Hamburg, Managing Partner at König & Cie., Hamburg, CEO at Ernst Russ AG I and Co-Founder and CEO of Elbe Financial Solutions (EFS), Luxembourg before returning to Frachtcontor as CEO.
Thore Schiller, co-CEO & CFO
Thore Schiller, co-CEO & CFO
Thore joined Frachtcontor in 2016 as General Legal Counsel. He became CFO and Managing Partner in 2017 and co-CEO together with Jens Mahnke in 2024.
Thore was qualified as a German Rechtsanwalt (Attorney) in 2004. He studied Sports in Cologne and Law in Göttingen, Caen and Cape Town, where he graduated with a Master in Shipping Law (LL.M.).
He started his shipping career in Allianz Marine & Aviation AG, eventually heading the Hull Claims & Cargo Subrogation Team, where he handled and negotiated large losses worldwide (e.g. Collisons, Salvages, Engine Damages, General Average, Mega Yacht & Inland Navigation risks, New Building & Repair Liabilities for commercial and naval vessels) mainly for large German Shipowners and Shipyards.
Thore then joined a leading German marine insurance broker, where he served as Claims Director, Compliance Officer and General Legal Counsel.
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Services
Experienced professionals will support you in all our fields of expertise. Explore the full range of our services.
Careers
We are always interested in expanding in all segments. By joining us, you will be part of our multinational and diverse team, consisting of 15 nationalities spread across 10+ offices worldwide, servicing our international client base.
Our history
Beginning in 1905, our heritage roots back over a century, reflecting a legacy built upon decades of experience. Over time, we have grown into Germany’s foremost shipbroker, a demonstration to our adaptability and strategic vision. Our business is shipping, encompassing dry bulk and tanker chartering, sale & purchase, financing, shipyard, and port agency.
Throughout our history, we have navigated through dynamic market conditions, technological advancements, and regulatory changes, demonstrating resilience and agility in an ever-changing world. Our history is a story of people, excellence, innovation, and leadership within the maritime sector, setting a benchmark for industry standards and paving the way for continued success in the years to come.
Today, as we stand at the forefront of the shipping industry, our commitment remains unwavering. With a steadfast focus on offering comprehensive expert and orderly maritime services, we continue to strengthen our capabilities and services. Navigating industry changes, we remain dedicated to driving progress, delivering excellence, adding value, and setting the course for sustainable maritime success.
Expanding our reach, our focus on and dedication to chartering, sale and purchase, finance and port excellence only grew stronger. In 2024, we acquired the shipyard service provider, CombiTrade thereby adding global shipyard expertise to our offerings. In 2020, we proudly welcomed Dubai into our network of offices, establishing Frachtcontor Shipbrokers DMCC, Dubai as an important location for our scope of chartering services. In 2017 we launched Frachtcontor Capital Partners, Hamburg, with a focus on providing value-adding capital for energy-efficient maritime projects across the group and aiming to ultimately accelerate the green transition of the maritime industry.
In subsequent years, pivotal milestones propelled us forward and solidified our ability to provide comprehensive shipping services. The Stinnes Group acquired 50% of Frachtcontor in 1972 and our ties to steel producers and energy companies were additionally strengthened. Strategic investments of Frachtcontor Tankers Brokers the same year saw the expansion of our chartering focus to include tankers, further enhancing our industry capabilities. In 1974 port agency services were added to the group enabling us to offer full value adding shipping services across the chartering and the agency sectors.
Embracing evolution, we transformed in 1942, transitioning into a limited partnership with esteemed Managing Director Erwin Junge at the helm. This structural change positioned us for greater agility and responsiveness in meeting the dynamic needs of our clientele.
The 1920’es marked a period of significant growth and influence. Serving as the exclusive chartering broker for the newly established steamship company ‘Frigga’, we facilitated the operation of eight steamships, showcasing our dry bulk chartering expertise and reliability. Furthermore, our collaboration with one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Europe, the German industry leader Hugo Stinnes, culminated in the founding of the Poseidon Shipping Company, a confirmation to our innovative spirit and strategic partnerships.
It all began the 7th of April 1905 with a vision shared by a group of esteemed German shipowners, among them Hamburg-American-Line, North German Lloyd, and Rob. M. Sloman & Co. who recognized the burgeoning demand for efficient transportation of coal to overseas bunker depots for steamships.