News
Samskip set to acquire Seawheel
Samskip is set to acquire the long-established shortsea shipping operator Seawheel. The two companies have announced that due diligence procedures have now been completed and all that remains is the final approval from the regulatory authorities.
Samskip recently acquired the shortsea intermodal operator Geest North Sea Line with the intention of combining the Dutch company's North Continent/UK/ Ireland/Spain service network with its own North Continent/Scandinavia/Baltic Sea services. Now, Seawheel's operations will also be merged into this system, thus expanding further what is believed to be Europe's most comprehensive shortsea container shipping network.
Samskip Chief Executive Officer Michael F Hassing, commented:
"By acquiring a major shortsea intermodal operator like Seawheel, we will be able to achieve significant economies of scale, reducing costs whilst offering greater port coverage and sailing frequency to the benefit of our customers. With our expanding network, we are convinced that we will be able to attract more freight off roads and onto an intermodal system that combines shortsea, rail and inland waterways. This has many environmental benefits."
In a joint statement, Wout Pronk, Managing Director of Geest and Alan Jones, Managing Director of Seawheel, said:
"We are confident that the Samskip-Geest-Seawheel organisation will be a powerful force in the shortsea shipping arena and that the best practices of the three companies will benefit customers, suppliers and personnel alike."
For further information, please contact:
Michael Hassing, Samskip: +44 790 171 5775
Alan Jones, Seawheel: to be advised
Wout Pronk, Geest North Sea Line: +31 10 491 2345
David Cheslin, Dunelm Public Relations: +44 20 7480 0601
Issued on behalf of:
Samskip BV
Den Hamweg 30
3089 KK Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 10 428 5050
www.samskip.com
Geest North Sea Line
Seattleweg 15
3195 ND Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 10 491 2345
www.geest.com
