Safmarine appoints new US liner agent
The appointment follows the decision by the Danish AP Moller-Maersk Group to establish the Antwerp-based Safmarine MPV as an independent business unit with its own, separate agency network. Safmarine MPV is leaving the Maersk Line/Safmarine agency network, which will continue to represent the AP Moller-Maersk Group’s Container Business.
“The liner and sales network of Maersk Line and Safmarine Container Lines is very successfully geared towards the container business," Jorg Knuttel, managing director of Safmarine MPV, said. "Handling of project and breakbulk cargoes and multi-purpose vessels, however, requires a different approach and it was decided that this was best delivered through an independent agency network dedicated to our business."
Norton Lilly, with its headquarters in Mobile, Alabama, is one of the leading independent U.S. shipping agents offering recognized know-how in the management of ship capacity of all types.
Deploying a dedicated fleet of multipurpose vessels, Safmarine MPV connects the U.S., Europe and South Africa with the main oil and gas ports along the West Africa coastline. Its specialized multipurpose vessels are purpose-built to carry project and break bulk cargoes and are also able to load containers.
The transition of Safmarine MPV, which continues to enjoy the full support of its shareholder, the AP Moller-Maersk Group, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013.
Source: breakbulk.com
