A2B-online Container strengthens its activity in Moerdijk with investment in third container vessel.
A2B-online Container strengthens its activity in Moerdijk with investment in third container vessel.
“The supply of container vessels in our market segment which we need for our services in Moerdijk are becoming more and more scarce, that is why we have acquired the MS Alma. This container vessel,a Sietas 151 type, was already chartered by us, but as from 2nd of January we own it and she has been renamed to MS ‘A2B Comfort”, according to Gerard de Groot, Managing Director of A2B-online Container BV.
“ Within our relatively short existence ( started only in the summer of 2013) this is again a fantastic moment for us. Especially for the contingency of our services and subsequently for our customers it is crucial that we were able to purchase the MS A2B Comfort. Two sister vessels the MS ‘A2B Future’ and the MS ‘A2B-Energy’ were already taken over earlier. All vessels have the same intake of 508 TEU. Besides these three vessels we have another two ships on charter with similar intake.The volumes in 2016 have been very good and consequently the utilisation of the ships as well”continues de Groot “ this gives us enough confidence to take such a decision”.
“The MS Comfort will be put on the Immingham service our main route in the
UK, adds Michael van Keulen, Operations Director. “In the meantime we sail nine times a week to Immingham next to London Thamesport, Teesport and Blyth , these ports are called upon three times and two times respectively. Moerdijk has become a real short sea port, our growth over recent years has proven this”.
Besides the container activities A2B-online has got a trailer division as well which has performed very well in 2016. Both companies are a part of the Dutch Vierhouten Group and report a turnover of nearly €100 mil. annually. We play an interesting role within the European (transport) logistics for those companies that export or ship to the United Kingdom.
“Again this year we expect further expansion of our turnover, says de Groot as Kombiverkehr, the German rail operator, will start a rail connection between Duisburg and Moerdijk as well as Alcotrans, the German barge operator who will start a barge connection between Moerdijk and Krefeld. Furthermore we expect some other multi modal projects to start in due course. So we have not finished our growth in Moerdijk yet”,concludes Gerard de Groot.