Baum & Co was founded in 1973 under the name of Befrachtungskontor W. Baum OHG by Wolfgang Baum, Dieter Brockmeyer, Edlef Jessen and Capt. W. Tensing.

Mr Brockmeyer left the company in 1976.

The main activities were chartering and agency services for vessels.

During the years the company was getting more and more involved in the development of ship and shipping projects. Having own tonnage created the need for an own ship management department within Befrachtungskontor W. Baum & Co.

Having moved into a bigger office in the Wilhelm-Böning Strasse in Nordenham, Befrachtungskontor W. Baum was renamed in Befrachtungskontor W. Baum & Co. OHG, known to everybody simply as Baum & Co.

In 1978 the first vessel purchased by Baum & Co were the MV “WHESTKAP”, MV “WHESTSTAR” and “WHESTGATE”.

Tragically, the “WHESTSTAR” sank on the Atlantic in December 1978 underway to the Azores. None of the crew survived, we have lost good men and also good friends. In obeisance to them and their families we always keep them in good memory. (The Tragedy happened about one week after the one of the MV “MÜNCHEN” in the same sea area)

Having chartering as core business Baum & Co had during the years some strange cargoes. Just to name one, in the late seventies, Baum & Co has transported a French circus on one of their vessels from Africa back to Europe.

To legally differentiate between chartering and managing vessels Baum & Co has founded a 100 percent subsidiary, NORBA Shipping GmbH in 1979 responsible for chartering and sale and purchase activities.

In 1980 and 1981 the first new buildings were originated by Baum & Co the container vessels MV “DORIS” and MV “KARIN”, both vessel were build on the Brand Werft in Oldenburg.

In 1982 the MV “STENHOLM” followed also on the Brand Werft.

In 1983 Baum & Co has ordered the MV “DOROTHEE” at Sietas Yard in Hamburg - the biggest built ship of Sietas at that time (12.750 dwat, 804 TEU).

Because of the continuous expansion, Baum & Co had built a new office building. They moved in beginning of April 1984.

In 1984 to 1987 A series of five small river coasters were built in the Netherlands.

Nordenhamer Bereederungsgesellschaft mbH was founded in 1987 also as 100 percent subsidiary of Baum & Co solely as management company for the vessels. Baum & Co remained as holding company for both Nordenhamer Bereederungs GmbH and NORBA Shipping GmbH.

In the beginning of the nineties, two small container vessels were initiated.

In 1992 MV “ALEXANDRA”, a 600 TEU vessel was build at Volkswerft Stralsund.

In 1994 Capt. W. Tensing separated from the company.

Baum & Co GmbH & Co. KG (new formation as from 1989) was now owned and managed by Wolfgang Baum and Edlef Jessen.

From 1996 to 1998 four small container feeder vessels were build in Portugal, Viana do Castillo as well as in China.

Thereafter, up to now, various vessels in similar size, partly geared followed as second hand tonnage.

Baum & Co (including Norba Shipping and Nordenhamer Bereederungs GmbH) has a safety management certification by Bureau Veritas since 1997 (ISM).

As from 2002 Mr Alexander Baum and Mr Hajo Renno are getting more and more engaged in the management activities of Baum & Co. in order to be prepared to take the rudder fully within the next decade.