closelink logo
About us

We are Closelink.

A technology company in the maritime industry.

We believe that every shipping company, no matter the fleet size or setup, should have the tools to make smarter, more strategic procurement decisions.

How it started

Closelink was founded in Hamburg with a simple goal: to use technology to make marine lubricant procurement easier, more transparent, and more efficient. Our team of technologists, maritime professionals, and data experts came together to tackle one of the shipping industry's most overlooked cost drivers.

We aim to bring clarity and control to every step of the process. Together, we have built a digital platform that simplifies complex workflows, increases transparency, and helps purchasers unlock real cost savings.

How it's going

Today, Closelink powers procurement teams across the globe. Here’s what we have achieved so far.

Ships icon
126,619,948
11,304
1,727

registered ships

supplier icon
126,619,948
11,304
1,727

litres ordered

Closelink Order icon
126,619,948
11,304
1,727

orders supplied

Strategic partners

Closelink is backed by industry leaders who share our commitment to setting a new standard in maritime procurement

OKEE Maritime Logo

Okee VC

A forward-looking venture capital firm, combining capital investment with strategic and operational expertise.

Signal Logo

Signal Ventures

Maritime investor offering strategic insights and broad resources.

ShipsFocus Logo

ShipsFocus VCC

A maritime venture studio supporting Closelink with domain expertise, network access, and hands-on operational support.

Business integrity

Compliance, fairness, and integrity are fundamental principles that shape our identity and drive our actions.

Download our Code of Ethics to learn more.

By clicking "Download", you confirm that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.
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The team

Faces of Closelink

We’re a diverse team with deep shipping expertise and smart technology, solving complex challenges with practical solutions.

Philippe Lavarde
Philippe Lavarde
CEO & Co-Founder
Tobias Schumacher
Tobias Schumacher
Co-Founder, Engineering
Jan Schwartau
Jan Schwartau
CCO
Jonas Reitmann
Jonas Reitmann
CTO
Mohamed Badawy
Mohamed Badawy
Customer Success
Julian Blohm
Julian Blohm
Engineering
Ben Dzaebel
Ben Dzaebel
Engineering
Steffen Karspeck
Steffen Karspeck
Design
Marta Kazmierska
Marta Kazmierska
Marketing & Communications
Dennis Kohlmann
Dennis Kohlmann
Engineering
Mitra Korkmaz
Mitra Korkmaz
Customer Success
Aneeshmon Thankappan
Aneeshmon Thankappan
Regional Business Development
Philippe Lavarde
Philippe Lavarde
CEO & Co-Founder
Jan Schwartau
Jan Schwartau
CCO
Jonas Reitmann
Jonas Reitmann
CTO
Jan Schwartau
Jan Schwartau
CCO
Mohamed Badawy
Mohamed Badawy
Customer Success
Mitra Korkmaz
Mitra Korkmaz
Customer Success
Jonas Reitmann
Jonas Reitmann
CTO
Tobias Schumacher
Tobias Schumacher
Co-Founder, Engineering
Julian Blohm
Julian Blohm
Engineering
Ben Dzaebel
Ben Dzaebel
Engineering
Dennis Kohlmann
Dennis Kohlmann
Engineering
Mitra Korkmaz
Mitra Korkmaz
Finance
Steffen Karspeck
Steffen Karspeck
Design
Philippe Lavarde
Philippe Lavarde
CEO & Co-Founder
Jan Schwartau
Jan Schwartau
CCO
Marta Kazmierska
Marta Kazmierska
Marketing & Communications
Aneeshmon Thankappan
Aneeshmon Thankappan
Business Development
Lead by example icon
Lead by example

We inspire each other to exceed our potential by demonstration, encouragement and the freedom to learn from mistakes.

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Stay hungry to perform

We aim to deliver extraordinary achievements, work with passion and act with persistence.

Take ownership
Take ownership

We face challenges with determination, take responsibility for our actions and aim to deliver valuable outcomes in all our endeavours.

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Embrace diversity

We embrace different personalities, strengths, ideas and cultural backgrounds to encourage pluralism in debate and opinion.

Strive for personal icon
Strive for personal development

We seek new challenges to push ourselves beyond personal boundaries and to expand our experience and capabilities.

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Motivate and inspire

We value a working culture that promotes flexibility, creativity and joy.

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Treat each other with respect

We treat each other with respect to establish a safe, supportive and productive work environment.

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Culture

Team values

Picture of Chye Poh Chua

Chye Poh Chua

Venturist for maritime digitalisation, inclusivity & sustainability

“While innovators see opportunity in change, they must also make that change happen. The Closelink founders understand this, so instead of attempting to change the maritime world as a whole, they specifically chose to implement change in a particular field: marine-lubricant procurement, where they show a very strong advantage and offer tangible benefits.”

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News

Read recent stories

Closelink and Bassnet logo
Integration

BASSnet and Closelink integration streamlines marine lubricant procurement

Closelink and BASS Software have successfully integrated their platforms to deliver a connected, automated lubricant procurement workflow—accelerating decision-making and reducing manual work for shipping companies.
Calculated Average Consumption chart representing dynamic and static values of lubricant consumption.
Product

Introducing: Calculated Average Consumption

The new Calculated Average Consumption feature provides users with precise insights into their vessels' lubricant consumption, significantly improving demand forecasting.
LR OneOcean and Closelink Logo
Integration

LR OneOcean and Closelink integrate lubes procurement into Cloud Fleet Manager

The collaboration automates transfer of lube-oil requisitions from the Cloud Fleet Manager to Closelink’s platform for optimized planning and ordering.
Navtor and Closelink logos
Integration

Closelink integrates NAVTOR real-time data

The collaboration brings NAVTOR's stock reporting (ROB) data directly into Closelink to help ship managers generate greater cost savings and enhance planning in lubricant procurement.
Closelink's feature comparing offers on marine lubricants
Product

Ensuring uninterrupted supplies with one of Closelink's key features

Explore Closelink's solution to effectively manage urgent marine lubricant requisitions in remote areas or during supplier shortages, reducing costs and enhancing procurement efficiency in the maritime industry.
BW LPG and Closelink logo
Customer stories

BW LPG achieves significant cost saving on lubricant spend

The results highlight an important 8% cost reduction across the entire fleet’s lube oil spending, demonstrating Closelink’s role in improving cost efficiency through technology.