Rotterdam / Madrid, September 17, 2025 — Vership Tanker Chartering, a new joint venture by Vertom Group and Ership Group, is set to reshape the global tanker brokerage landscape. This strategic alliance marks a significant milestone in both companies’ evolution and reflects their shared commitment to delivering agile, tailored, and client-first brokerage services across the international tanker market.
Though the Vership brand will be officially launched at a later date, the collaboration between the two respected maritime giants is already fully operational, offering clients immediate access to the combined expertise, resources, and market reach of both organizations.
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Vership Tanker Chartering: More Than a Name — A Philosophy
The name “Vership” is more than just a portmanteau of Vertom and Ership — it embodies the seamless integration and shared vision of the two companies. At its core, Vership represents synergy without disruption: while the branding is new, clients can expect the same trusted brokers and personalized service they have always relied upon, now enhanced by a broader market view and a richer network of opportunities.
“This is not about becoming ‘just another big player,’” says Robert Heemskerk, Manager of Vertom Tanker chartering. “It’s about combining our strengths to give clients a more powerful, more knowledgeable, yet still highly personal service.”
A Boutique Brokerage Network in a Global Market
In a sector increasingly dominated by large, impersonal players, Vership Tanker Chartering positions itself deliberately as a boutique brokerage network — offering an alternative rooted in deep expertise, attention to detail, and personal relationships.
By merging small, specialized teams from both companies, Vership brings a nimble, responsive, and tailor-made approach to tanker chartering. The emphasis is on client intimacy, agility, and deep regional insight, allowing Vership to act quickly and effectively in volatile markets.
“With Vership, we are building a network of specialist tanker brokerage boutiques,” explains Ricardo Hernandez, Tanker Chartering Manager at Ership. “We offer broader coverage, deeper market insight, and complementary skills, all while maintaining the flexibility and attention to detail that define us.”
Strategic Synergies: Global Reach, Local Expertise
The partnership brings together two industry leaders with distinct but complementary strengths:
- Vertom Group contributes its robust global tanker chartering expertise, with capabilities spanning deep sea, short sea, and ARA-Rhine inland markets. With more than 50 years of experience in maritime logistics, Vertom also brings a modern fleet of over 100 vessels and a well-established reputation across the European shipping corridor.
- Ership Group, with its 140-year maritime heritage, enhances the alliance through its extensive footprint in the Mediterranean and Continental markets, especially in chemicals and biofuels. Ership also adds deep experience in larger CPP (Clean Petroleum Products) and DPP (Dirty Petroleum Products) segments — significantly expanding the joint venture’s operational bandwidth.
The result is a geographically diverse and technically well-rounded brokerage entity, able to deliver not only traditional tanker services but also innovative solutions tailored to the changing dynamics of the energy and commodities markets.
Client Continuity Meets Enhanced Capabilities
For existing clients of either Vertom or Ership, the transition to Vership promises to be smooth and beneficial. There are no changes in contact personnel or service levels — only an expansion of options, insight, and geographical coverage. Vership’s teams are committed to maintaining the human touch, ensuring that clients receive bespoke attention with the backing of a more formidable, integrated operation.
A Milestone for the Tanker Market
As the global energy landscape evolves and new shipping challenges emerge — from sustainability pressures to volatile commodity flows — Vership Tanker Chartering steps onto the stage with a promise: to be client-centric, adaptive, and unrelentingly focused on quality.
This is more than a merger. It’s a new standard in tanker brokerage — where tradition meets innovation, and where global scale meets boutique excellence.
Stay tuned for the official brand launch of Vership — a name you’ll be hearing a lot more of in the world of tanker chartering.
About Ership Group
Founded over 140 years ago, Ership Group is a family-owned maritime powerhouse with a strong legacy in port operations, chartering, agency services, and freight forwarding. With operations in 40 ports across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, and over 1,000 employees across 30 cities in 6 countries, Ership continues to grow its global footprint.
Ership’s deep-rooted knowledge in chemical cargoes, biofuels, and large-scale petroleum shipments, along with its comprehensive service offering, makes it an indispensable player in the global shipping and logistics ecosystem.
About Vertom Group
Headquartered in Rhoon, the Netherlands, Vertom Group has been a reliable and innovative force in Short Sea Shipping for over half a century. With a modern fleet exceeding 100 dry cargo vessels (ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 DWT), Vertom specializes in delivering flexible, customized maritime logistics across Europe and beyond.
Vertom offers services in shipping and trading, port agency, freight forwarding, liner services, and notably, tanker chartering. Through constant technological innovation and a client-first approach, Vertom remains one of Europe’s most agile maritime service providers.
Source Vertom Group