Background History

Back in 1902, when the Port of Emden was completed and at the same time the Dortmund-Ems Canal was inaugurated to provide a link with Germany’s industrial heartland, the first ship supply services were also established in this, Germany’s most westerly seaport. Further developments were interrupted by World War I until finally, on 31 December 1919, thirteen months after the end of the war, Emder Schiffsausrüstung was established. The company founders had a vision – they believed in the reconstruction of the merchant fleet, despite the desolate state of the ports, despite the collapse of the currency, and despite civil war. Events proved them right.

The offices of the new company were initially located in the “Hansa House”, in Ringstrasse, and the warehouses were located in the centuries old “Pack Houses” in the city centre. The company moved on 1 April 1927 to the Port Zone I, now called “Zu den Hafenbecken”, where the company still has its headquarters.

After the Second World War, the company had to start again from zero – Germany had been reduced to chaos, there was practically no material available, no food, and the whole of the merchant fleet was in the hands of the victorious powers. But despite the difficulties, the company’s employees got down to work again with enthusiasm and commitment, with the vision of the company founders in mind.

In 1948 the sailmaking and rigging operations were relaunched, and water supply vessels were commissioned. In 1952 the office rooms and warehouses were rebuilt and expanded, and just five years later the building was enlarged with the addition of an upper storey. In the same year, the ship supply business in Wilhelmshaven was also established, and that was followed on 1 January 1969 by creation of the Rotterdam Unit of Emder Schiffsausrüstung. Exactly thirty years later to the day, the first overseas office was established with the foundation of Emden Ship Supply Pte. (S) Ltd. in Singapore in 1999.