The British company North Star has appointed Bruno Bartel as the new Head of Renewable Energy in Europe.
Based in Hamburg, he will drive forward the growth targets of the hybrid SOV operator. Bartel has almost nine years of experience in ship chartering in Germany. He began his career with a Hamburg-based brokerage company for offshore wind turbines and has also worked for several Hamburg-based family businesses.
His academic background includes a B.Sc. in Shipping from London Metropolitan University and an LL.M. in International Maritime Law from Swansea University.
In his new role, Bartel will act as the main point of contact for North Star’s European clients operating outside UK waters, helping to capitalise on the growing opportunities of the offshore wind market in the region. He will also provide local recruitment support to North Star’s HR team.
North Star plans to expand its SOV fleet
“We are delighted to welcome Bruno to North Star as we look to further expand our presence in the European offshore wind market,” said CEO Matthew Gordon. “His extensive maritime experience, energy and deep understanding of the charter sector will be invaluable as we work towards our strategic goal of adding 40 hybrid SOVs to our fleet by 2040.” They are confident that Bruno will play a key role in driving this growth. “We will be exhibiting at WindEnergy Hamburg next week, which will be a great opportunity for visitors to meet Bruno and our leadership team.”
In February, the company secured a newbuild order for its first SOV to be deployed off the German coast. The service vessel, which is destined for the EnBW wind farm He Dreiht, will begin its ten-year charter at the end of next year.
Commenting on his appointment, Bruno said: “I am excited to join North Star and build on the strong foundation that is already in place. “Many aspects appealed to me, including the company’s 137-year heritage, personal approach, in-house cadet program and SOV training. Overall, North Star’s expertise in ship management and technical management, as well as its proven track record of reliability and safety, sets it apart from the competition. I look forward to meeting our customers and technology partners in the coming weeks and working with the team to achieve our European goals.”
North Star has been in the SOV market since 2021. It employs 1,400 people and has offices in Aberdeen, Lowestoft, and Newcastle.
