GasChem Services

What GasChem Services does

GasChem Services GmbH & Co. KG is a Hamburg-headquartered commercial manager and chartering operator for a fleet of more than 30 liquefied gas carriers, with 24 vessels currently on water. Founded in 1990 as a member of the Hartmann Group, the company provides seaborne transportation services for Ammonia, Ethane, Ethylene, LPG, and other petrochemical gases worldwide under spot, time charter, and contracts of affreightment arrangements. Its fleet is structured across three vessel classes: midsize gas carriers (~40,000 CBM, semi-refrigerated), handysize gas carriers (17,000-22,000 CBM), and sub-12,000 CBM vessels including pressurized tankers, allowing the company to serve diverse cargo types and customer requirements. A newbuilding program is expanding the fleet with dual-fuel vessels capable of running on LPG, LNG, or Ethane alongside conventional fuel (HFO/MGO), positioning the company around a 'green shipping' narrative in response to tightening maritime emissions standards.

The company's business model is direct B2B chartering into the international oil and chemical industry, with revenue generated through negotiated freight contracts rather than publicly disclosed pricing. Sales are conducted through direct chartering relationships with commercial management of the fleet, supported by a global office network spanning Hamburg (headquarters), Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, London, Rio de Janeiro, and Houston. GasChem operates with a lean management structure of 1-10 employees, indicating a commercial management and chartering focus rather than direct asset ownership or vessel crewing; technical and operational management is handled through affiliated partners within the Hartmann Group structure. The company has no external institutional investors, no PE/VC funding history, and no public listing, operating as a privately held partnership wholly owned within the Hartmann conglomerate. Management is led by Managing Director Thomas Schmidt, with chartering and operations teams headed by experienced personnel averaging 19+ years of industry seniority.

Name

GasChem Services

Legal name

GasChem Services GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://gaschem.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GasChem Services is a Hamburg-based commercial manager and chartering operator for a fleet of 30+ liquefied gas tankers, transporting Ammonia, Ethane, LPG, and petrochemical gases worldwide for the major oil and chemical industry under the Hartmann Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seaborne Liquefied Gas Transportation

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquefied Gas Transport (LNG/LPG/Ammonia) (TLADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Gases (Compressed/Cryogenic) Bulk Transport (TLADALAE), Product Tanker Shipping (Clean/Dirty) (EUALADAH)

Keywords

• Seaborne gas transportation
• Liquefied gas shipping
• Gas tanker chartering
• Petrochemical gas logistics
• LPG ammonia shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Seaborne transportation services: Provides shipping services and commercial management of a modern fleet of gas tankers. Revenue generated through spot charters, time charters, and contracts of affreightment for transporting liquefied gas cargoes (Ammonia, Ethane, Ethylene, LPG and petrochemical gases) worldwide.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

GasChem Services operates and commercially manages a fleet of more than 30 gas carriers providing worldwide seaborne transportation of Ammonia, Ethane, Ethylene, LPG and other petrochemical gases. The fleet spans three vessel size categories — Midsize (~40,000 CBM), Handysize (17,000–22,000 CBM) and Sub 12,000 CBM — with fully refrigerated, semi-refrigerated and pressurized configurations, complemented by a newbuilding program for dual-fuel vessels. Shipping is delivered under spot charters, time charters and contracts of affreightment for major oil and chemical industry customers.

Product overview

GasChem Services operates a unified fleet management and shipping service for the transportation of liquefied gases. The company manages a diverse fleet of gas carriers organized into three main vessel categories: Midsize Gas Carriers (approximately 40,000 CBM capacity, semi-refrigerated), Handysize Gas Carriers (17,000-22,000 CBM), and Sub 12.000cbm vessels (under 12,000 CBM including pressurized tankers). Services include commercial management of vessels and shipping services under spot, time charter, or contracts of affreightment. The company also maintains a newbuilding program for dual-fuel vessels. The fleet transports Ammonia, Ethane, Ethylene, LPG and other petrochemical gases worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Midsize Gas Carriers Semi-refrigerated gas tankers with capacity around 40,000 CBM that transport petrochemical gases internationally for major oil and chemical industry customers.
• Handysize Gas Carriers Compact semi-refrigerated gas tankers with capacities from approximately 17,000 to 22,000 CBM, suitable for transporting liquefied gases on global shipping routes.
• Sub 12,000 CBM Gas Carriers Smaller gas tankers with capacity below 12,000 CBM, including pressurized vessels, used for specialized liquefied gas transport operations worldwide.
• Newbuilding Program Construction program for new dual-fuel gas carrier vessels designed to expand and modernize the fleet using environmentally-friendly propulsion technology.
• Shipping Services (Spot, Time Charter & Contracts of Affreightment) Worldwide shipping services for liquefied gas cargoes (Ammonia, Ethane, Ethylene, LPG and petrochemical gases) delivered under spot charter, time charter or contracts of affreightment arrangements with direct chartering relationships to major oil and chemical customers.
• Commercial Fleet Management Commercial management of a modern, technically sophisticated fleet of fully refrigerated, semi-refrigerated and pressurized gas tankers, including Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) standards oversight through technical managers.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hartmann GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990GasChem Services GmbH & Co. KG is a member of the Hartmann Group, a maritime logistics and shipping group. The Hartmann Group provides corporate backing and likely shared services, technical management, and operational synergies across affiliated shipping companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BW LPG: World's largest LPG carrier operator with a fleet of 80+ VLGCs. Directly competes with GasChem in LPG seaborne transportation, including dual-fuel newbuild programs targeting LPG as fuel.
• Dorian LPG: Pure-play VLGC operator with 22+ VLGCs focused exclusively on LPG shipping. Directly comparable to GasChem as a publicly listed LPG carrier with similar cargo focus.
• Navigator Holdings: Operates the world's largest fleet of semi-refrigerated petrochemical gas carriers, transporting LPG, ammonia, petrochemicals and other specialty gases. Most direct competitor given overlapping cargo mix (ammonia, ethylene, LPG) and semi-refrigerated vessel profile.
• Anthony Veder: Dutch-based mid-sized gas carrier operator with a focus on LPG and petrochemical gases. Comparable to GasChem in fleet size, cargo profile, and European ownership/operating base.
• Evergas: Specializes in seaborne transport of LPG, petrochemical gases, and CO2 with a fleet of ethylene/LPG carriers. Closely matches GasChem's mid-size and handysize semi-refrigerated focus and petrochemical gas customer base.
• Cool Company (formerly Awilco LNG): Small-cap publicly listed gas carrier operator with semi-refrigerated LPG/ethylene vessels. Directly comparable in size, vessel class, and cargo mix to GasChem's handysize and midsize fleet.

Emerging players

• Höegh LNG: Specializes in LNG and LPG carrier operations with floating storage regasification units (FSRUs). Adjacent competitor in the gas shipping segment, particularly in smaller-scale and project-based cargoes.

Broad incumbents

• Stolt-Nielsen: Diversified chemical tanker, tank container, and Stolthaven terminal operator. Overlaps with GasChem in petrochemical gas shipping but operates a much broader portfolio across parcel tankers, terminals, and logistics.
• Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL): Major Japanese shipping conglomerate with a sizeable LNG/LPG carrier division and growing ammonia transport business. Competes in the same gas shipping markets as GasChem but as part of a much larger, diversified portfolio.

Regional players

• Hartmann Reederei: Sister company within the Hartmann Group operating containerships and other vessel types. Strategically aligned parent affiliate providing shared services and operational synergies to GasChem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GasChem Services