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Dry Bulk shipping provider with over 90 years of global logistics and trading experience

About us

The Cobelfret companies operate a modern, fuel-efficient fleet of owned, long term and short term chartered tonnage. 

With a combined fleet of more than 100 vessels from handysize upto capesize bulk carriers, and with offices around the world, we are well-positioned to serve customers globally, providing cost effective solutions with greater flexibility.

Our proven track record and strong focus on risk management make us a safe choice for your transportation needs.

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Industries we serve

Agriculture
Agriculture & Fertilizer

We are expanding our involvement in the transportation of agriculture products (used for human and animal consumption) and fertilizer (enhancing fertility of the soil), which are essential in providing food security for the world.

Energy
Energy

We have a long history of servicing the energy sector through carrying commodities like wood pellets and coal.

Construction
Construction

We carry all kinds of building materials like clinkers, slags, gypsum and cement that are used in civil and industrial construction.

Mining
Mining

We carry a vast array of mined dry bulk commodities, like bauxite, different types of ore, coal, rock, and salt.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing

We are deeply involved in carrying a wide range of minerals, ores and other commodities used in the aluminium and steel industry.

Fast facts

48 M+
Tonnes of cargo carried
100+
Owned and operated vessels
2200+
Port calls with more than 95 countries
200+
Customers

Our journey

ATOWN
1929

Dieschburg & Cigrang, later renamed as Cigrang Frères, is established as a commodity trading company in Antwerp.

logo
1939

The shipping company Compagnie Belge d'Affrètements (with cable address: COBELFRET) is founded.

m/s Clervaux, the first owned vessel
1952

Acquisition of m/s Clervaux, the first owned vessel.

Boelwerf
1958

4 bulk carriers of 14,000 mt dwat are delivered at the Boelwerf (Belgium).

kyoto
1973

Cobelfret orders 2 panamax bulk carriers at the Cockerill yards (Belgium). These vessels, the m/v Zeebrugge and the m/v Kyoto, are jointly owned with one of the top tier Japanese shipping companies.

ijmuiden
1976

Cobam, a joint-venture company with the Dutch steelmill Hoogovens, is created.

PMAX
1994

Cobelfret takes delivery of the first capesize ever built in China: the m/v Samarinda.

lux
1996

Cobelfret SA starts in Luxembourg.

Sing
2013

Cobelfret Pte Ltd is founded in Singapore.

A town
2021

Cobelfret resumes its handysize operations in Antwerp.

Our fleet

A diversified fleet including chartered tonnage, owned tonnage and joint venture/co-owned vessels in the handysize, supramax, (post)panamax and capesize segments.

Discover our fleet

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Sustainability

Marine vessel

While we are presently owning and operating one of the best GHG-rated postpanamax fleets of the world, we have also engaged in a process of renewing and widely extending our core fleet of long term time chartered vessels. These vessels, state-of-the-art, Japanese designed newbuildings, EEDI phase 3 and NOx Tier III compliant, will have a very low consumption and emission when comparing with their peer group. The Cobelfret companies are therefore very well positioned to meet the increasingly stringent environmental regulations and targets as set by the IMO and other authorities around the globe.

Not less importantly, our companies are also very much focused on improving their achievements in social and governance related matters and will uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity throughout their business operations. Transparency and accountability are core tenets of our business processes. By upholding these tenets, we have established a culture of trust and cooperation that will drive improvements throughout our operations.

Blue Whale Head
Whales protection from unintended ship strikes

Striving to minimize ecological impact of our worldwide shipping activities,  we engage actively in prevention of unintended ship strikes with whales. The continuous collaboration with the Whale Guardians organization assists us to efficiently route our ships away from well-known whale grounds and sailing at reduced speed as appropriate for the preservation goal. Along with our ship managers we implement crew awareness and strike avoidance programs. Further on we are promulgating our activities and solutions to the shipping partners and regulatory bodies hoping to increase awareness and implement sustainable practices worldwide by all involved.