1836-1919

1836 Jürgen Oltmann sen., born in 1803, ordered the skull "Meta-Maria" from the shipbuilder Peter Mahler in Dornbusch. He was sailing with the vessel until his death in 1867. It is the first vessel of the Shipping Company Oltmann and at the same time the second oldest (proven) vessel which had been build in Kehdingen.

01.02.1862, his son Jürgen Oltmann jun., born 1832, bought the two-mast skull "Aurora". He sailed with the vessel in the North Sea and Baltic Sea until he ceased from his profession in 1907.

His son, Theodor Oltmann, born 1858, purchased the spanker skull "Zufriedenheit" in 1896, which he possessed few years only. In 1900, he ordered the spanker skull "Genius" at the skull shipyard Klaus Schulz in Dornbusch. The vessel is sold by him in 1919, when he retired from being a seaman.

1920-1954

Johannes (Hans) Oltmann, born in 1891, son of Theodor, was shareholder of the schooner "Anna". Only two years later he bought the gaff schooner "Hanni" in cooperation with his brother Jürgen. In 1927, the three-mast schooner "Antje" had been purchased, "Hanni" was sold. All three sailing vessels had been equipped with small engines for propulsion. Following to the sale of the "Antje", Johannes (Hans) Oltmann ordered the "Antje Oltmann" at the shipyard C. Lühring, Kirchhammelwarden/Germany. This is the first motor vessel, which however still had supporting sails.

1955-1965

A new era begins: In 1955, the Stader Schiffswerft delivers the coaster "Hans Oltmann" and son Gerhard Oltmann, born in 1923, is managing the shipping company with his father Hans Oltmann. In 1962, the shipyard J.J. Sietas in Hamburg/Neuenfelde delivers the newbuilding "Anneliese Oltmann" to the partnership Gerhard and Hans Oltmann. Three years later, the same shipyard is delivering the motor ship "Antje Oltmann".

1966-1993

Gerhard Oltmann continues to enlarge the shipping company and with the MV "Karen Oltmann" one of the first full-container vessels of the German fleet was inaugurated. The containerization is going on and except the vessels MV "Anneliese Oltmann" (2nd) and MV "Genius" only full-container vessels are added to the shipping company's fleet.

1993-2016

Now the 6th generation is taking over. Since 1836, all generations had been masters and active seamen. Jan Oltmann, born in 1955, and Peter Oltmann, born in 1958, are now managing the company. The office is moving from the original location in Dornbusch to Fredenbeck and in 2009 the new office at the old port of the Hansestadt Stade is opened. The shipping company is operating midsize container vessels and, as a new segment, also bulk carriers.

Since 2017

The 7th generation starts working in the family business. Lukas Oltmann, born in 1988, is the first descendant who did not sail as a Master but chose the engineering path. Since 2021, he has replaced Jan Oltmann as managing director and is responsible for the technical/operational aspects of the company. At the same time, the shipping company is steadily expanding its management for external owners.

The company flag is a symbol for the relation of the family with the home-country and northern-German tradition.
The colours yellow / white represent the local department of Hannover. These are the colours of the "Welfen", the kings of Hannover.
The colours black / white / red represent the national colours. These date back to 1867 as colours of the "North German Alliance" and the first flag of the merchant navy.
The colour blue together with the colour white represents the city of Stade.