History

1905

H. Westfal-Larsen established his shipping company operating mainly in the timber and coal trades. The first owned ship was “SS Hardanger” built by the local shipyard Bergens Mekaniske Verksted.

1913

Westfal-Larsen rented office premises in a new office building in Kong Oscarsgate 62. The house was called “Rederhuset” (“the house of the ship owners”), with several shipping companies in Bergen as tenants.

1917

The company took delivery of it´s first tanker “ST Malmanger”. Unfortunately, she was torpedoed during her maiden voyage in the North Atlantic. During World War I, Westfal-Larsen lost nine ships, despite Norway being neutral during the war.

1918

Westfal-Larsen & Co. AS was established, consolidation several unlimited partnerships.

The 1920s and 1930s

Westfal-Larsen & Co. AS expanded in the post-war period and was involved in oil tankers and overseas liner trades.

In 1931 Westfal-Larsen & Co. AS moved to new office premises in Handels- og Sjøfartens Hus in Olav Kyrresgate.

In 1938 Westfal-Larsen was Bergen’s largest shipping company, owning approximately a quarter of the city’s tonnage.

The 1940s and 1950s

Westfal-Larsen was the Bergen-based shipping company that suffered the greatest losses during World War II. Out of a fleet of 36 ships, 22 were lost during the war. Westfal-Larsen restored its fleet by acquiring vessels from the surplus war transport reserve, and the fleet returned to its pre-war size in 1955.

1962

In 1962, Westfal-Larsen entered into a business venture with ship owner Per Waaler. Together they established Star Shipping AS and expanded the open hatch concept, characterized by open rectangular cargo holds where the entire top hatch cover was lifted by the ship´s on-board cranes. The Open Hatch concept was specifically suited to carry forestry products.

1964

Westfal-Larsen partnered with AS Rederiet Odfjell in the chemical tanker segment.

1966

After having rented office premises in Handel- og Sjøfartens Hus in Olav Kyrresgate for many years, Westfal-Larsen & Co. AS moved to newly built owned premises in Teatergaten 35, formerly Engen 44.

The architect was Halfdan B. Grieg. In 1966 the company was awarded the “Det nyttige Selskabs pris for god arkitektur” in recognition of the building’s contemporary architecture.

1990

In 1990 Westfal-Larsen discontinued the collaboration with AS Rederiet Odfjell, with Odfjell buying its 13 chemical tankers.

1995

Westfal-Larsen established Masterbulk Private Limited in Singapore.

2003-2005

Westfal-Larsen, through its company Westchart AS, commercially marketed parts of the Team Tankers fleet of chemical tankers.

2008

Star Shipping AS demerged. As a consequence of the demerger, parts of Star Shipping AS’s management and marketing business, including assets, liabilities and a number of employees, were transferred to Westfal-Larsen Shipping AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Masterbulk Private Limited.