More than 600 invited guests gathered yesterday at Limassol Marina, Cyprus, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM). Customers and partners, representatives from business and politics as well as employees, paid tribute to BSM as a first mover in third-party ship management. Fifty years ago, the foundation was laid for the development of today’s BSM, which is now one of the largest ship management companies in the world. Furthermore, it was the beginning of the unparalleled development of Cyprus into one of the world’s most important shipping locations.

“The name Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement has a firm place in Cyprus’ shipping history. The decision of the company’s management at the time to choose Limassol as the location for the start-up has had a significant impact on the development of our country as a maritime hub of global importance,” said Vassilios Demetriades, Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus, ahead of the event. “With foresight and entrepreneurial courage, an entirely new business segment was founded, which is now firmly established worldwide.”

“Fifty years of BSM – that’s really something special,” said Dr Heinrich Schulte, Chairman of the Schulte Group and founder of BSM, in his address to the guests. “This anniversary fills us all with joy and with great pride. What started in 1972 with a handful of employees became the blueprint for an entire industry. I would like to thank all customers and partners who have accompanied us on this journey and for the trust they have placed with our company. But my special thanks go above all to our employees worldwide for their great commitment, who have made this success story possible.”