Felixstowe-based Maritime Group takes over DHL logistics unit

FELIXSTOWE-based transport company Maritime Group Ltd has expanded with the acquisition of DHL Container Logistics, including its container lifting, storage and repair operations at Hong Kong's Hutchison Port of Felixstowe as well as Trafford Park, in Manchester.

The combined businesses of Maritime Transport and DHL Container Logistic will rank as the largest operator in the UK container transport industry, reports the East Anglian Daily Times of Ipswich.

The announcement said the sale would allow Maritime to develop its interests in container transport and DHL Freight to concentrate on its core air and ocean freight services in the UK.

Maritime said its enlarged business would operate a fleet of 900 vehicles - compared with the group's current total of just over 700 - and would have transport depots at every major seaport and conurbation in England, with a total of 16 acres of dedicated container storage.

"DHL Container Logistics is an excellent fit with complementary depots and customer base," said Maritime Group managing director John Williams. "Not only have we been able to strengthen our UK network, we will extend our service offering to customers, through container lifting, storage and repairs."

Said DHL Freight managing director Jeroen Eijsink: "We are delighted to have reached agreement with Maritime to acquire the company and that its future is secure under the wings of a strong market leader, committed to the container transport sector."

Maritime Group, which is based at Haven Exchange in Felixstowe, also has established depots at Southampton, Thamesport, Tilbury, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hams Hall near Birmingham.

DHL Container Logistics has sites at Felixstowe, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Tilbury, Seaforth and Southampton. It is a major player in both road and rail-based container haulage, offering intermodal services which operate throughout the UK rail network under a relationship with rail freight operator Freightliner as well as road-based haulage and in-house traffic management services.

Maritime Transport traces its origins back to 1974 and took on its current identity in 1990 when the business was acquired by Maritime Transport Services, the then owner of Thamesport, to help attract shipping lines to the then newly-built container port in Kent.

(Source: www.schednet.com)