Hans-Jürgen Koch

MD at Bertling Transporte Maritimo SpA, Chile, responsible for Americas shipping operations.

• Leading the chartering and operations team across the Americas, overseeing both bulk and breakbulk trades from offices in Chile and Peru. • Acting as freight trader and strategist for key bulk trades in WCSA, optimizing routing, timing, and vessel deployment across Handy and Supramax segments. • Managing high-level commercial negotiations and structuring COAs and spot/voyage deals with mining and industrial clients. • Building long-term relationships with commodity producers and traders — particularly in mining, construction materials, and energy sectors. • Developing new market flows and regional trade corridors, including niche cargoes and parceling solutions tailored to customer needs. • Driving commercial growth through margin analysis, vessel utilization modeling, and competitive market positioning. • Interfacing directly with clients across mining, trading, and industrial logistics, translating complex operational constraints into executable commercial solutions.

• Managed parcelling and full cargo activities in Continental Europe and the Baltics. • Developed new trades and deepened market presence, with a focus on Norwegian clients. • Secured long-term clients and expanded breakbulk capabilities within a structured fleet.

• Handled regional and international chartering for major & minor bulks, including copper concentrates, lithium, cement, sulphur, and grain. • Closed both spot and long-term COAs for Panamax, Supra and Handy segments across WCSA, ECSA, PNW and Asia. • Spearheaded renewable/green shipping initiatives and supported ESG-aligned project cargoes.

• Executed COA, V/C and T/C operations with emphasis on concentrates and copper trade. • Coordinated daily operations, ensuring commercial optimization and timely execution.

• Managed port call execution and coordination for Dry Bulk and Tanker vessels in Chile and Peru. • Supported major shipowners and charterers with full pre/post-fixture services, husbandry, and ops logistics.

• Managed trade execution for WCSA–FEAST and intra-coastal WCSA services for Evergreen Line. • Responsible for cargo control, vessel scheduling, KPI tracking and port call optimization. • LEAN Method Champion for continuous improvement initiatives.

• Rotational training across commercial, port agency, air freight, and liner operations. • Gained end-to-end exposure to shipping processes and stakeholder coordination.