A trained shipping merchant, Alfred Hartmann graduated in Nautical Sciences and attained the Master’s license for deep-sea vessels. After sailing in worldwide trades as Nautical Officer and Master for several years and working as a newbuilding supervisor in Japan, he founded Hartmann Reederei in 1981. In 2008, he assumed the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hartmann AG. Since January 2015, Alfred Hartmann is the President of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR).