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Samskip boosts Norway reefer presence with acquisition of Euro Container Lines

Samskip has completed the acquisition of Norway’s Euro Container Lines (ECL) from Wilson for EUR2.5m..

“The ECL acquisition aims to strengthen Samskip’s position in the Norwegian market by enhancing the speed and frequency of services delivering a second-to-none value proposition for its Norwegian client base,” Samskip said in a release today.

Wilson took over ECL from Eimskip in 2008.

Total annual Norwegian Samskip volumes are expected to increase substantially, from the current 55,000 teu to 90,000 teu. The acquisition also means a significant expansion in the refrigerated transport capacity Samskip can offer connecting with its own cold stores in Ålesund and Rotterdam, which increases to around 275-300 reefer containers per week.

Jens Holger Nielsen, CEO of Samskip, said: “The ECL deal is a definitive move in this market and completes the regional acquisition strategy we have been developing over the past years. I think it is fair to say that we will deliver greater value to our clients in Norway, putting us in the position to provide the all-round services that Samskip is renowned for in other major fishing nations such as Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Samskip’s view is that the acquisition strengthens what is our already strong position as a major operator in temperature controlled logistics”.

The ECL deal follows the earlier purchase of shares by Samskip Logistics in Silver Green. Silver Green, based in Bergen, Norway, operates a fleet of 14 reefer vessels.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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