The joint venture company will operate a common user general cargo terminal at the Churchilldock in the Port of Antwerp. The agreement safeguards future capacity requirements and expert handling by DP World who provides first class breakbulk stevedoring services.
Conti Lines, the Antwerp based breakbulk owner/operator, has historically been a key general cargo customer to DP World in Antwerp, responsible for a significant part of DP World's general cargo volumes. Rickmers-Linie has frequent calls at the Port of Antwerp with its worldwide liner services for breakbulk, heavylift and project cargoes, and will move to the facility of DP World Breakbulk NV effective January 1, 2008.
The facility will continue to be branded as a DP World terminal. The shareholding between the three partners will be DP World, Conti-Lines and Rickmers-Linie holding 60%, 20% and 20% respectively. DP World will manage and operate the terminal.
Commenting on the proposed joint venture, Eric Noterman, Managing Director of DP World Antwerp said, 'I am delighted with the agreement. We very much look forward to working with our partners, Conti-Lines and Rickmers-Linie and seeing the terminal go from strength to strength. This cooperation is also the basis for creating a modern facility which can serve various customers.'
Mr. Jean-Frederic Brion, C.E.O. of Conti-Lines equally expresses his enthusiasm of entering into a joint venture with DP World and Rickmers-Linie. 'This agreement is a genuine proof of our firm commitment to the trade. Our goal is to safeguard and guarantee the continuity of handling breakbulk cargoes in Antwerp in the future.
'This joint venture secures us specialized terminal capacity for the growing volumes of breakbulk, heavylift and project cargoes shipped to and from Antwerp on our services, and enables us to develop and to offer value added services to our customers.' said Jan B. Steffens, C.E.O. of Rickmers-Linie.
