Maersk, Safmarine to set up intra-European, short-haul carrier

THE AP Moller-Maersk Group's container shipping and related activities division plans to establish a separate company to offer intra-European, short-haul, sea freight transportation services.

The new company aims to commence operations in the second quarter of next year to increase the group's market share from six to 15 per cent. Jacob Bomholt is expected to become managing director of Maersk Line in Brazil, said London's Containerisation International.

In response to media requests for confirmation of a leaked internal document, the division issued the following statement: "We can confirm we have created an Intra-Europe company that will begin operation in the second half of 2011. The new company will focus on growing Maersk Line and Safmarine's market share in the attractive European short-haul market, much the same way MCC Transport has done in Asia. It is still early in the development, but we expect to be able to provide more details about the new company in November."

Maersk Line provides liner services between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, and feeder services between northern Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltic and within the Mediterranean basin. Safmarine has not had any direct involvement in the intra-European feeder market since the sale of Portlink to Delphis in 2006.
(Source:www.schednet.com)