According to Rhenus PartnerShip, it is now strengthening its own competitive position on the Rhine to Belgium. With the aim of internationalization, the inland shipping specialist wants to expand its connections towards Antwerp and operate independently on the Belgian market in the future. To achieve this, Rhenus is increasing its shares in DGA Shipping to 100 percent, the company said. Thomas Maaßen, Managing Director of Rhenus PartnerShip:
“By now being fully involved, Rhenus PartnerShip is strengthening its position in the market and we can support our customers even more flexibly. The share acquisition makes it possible to maximize synergies, use resources more efficiently and offer our customers an even broader and improved service portfolio.”
DGA Shipping operates inland waterway transport in Belgium and offers inland waterway transport nationwide and throughout the ARA area, i.e. in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp. In addition to freighting, the main activities include shipping with our own and third-party cargo space, for example using push boats and push barges.
The company specializes in dry shipping in the areas of bulk cargo, general cargo and project cargo. It offers transport to all ports in the Rhine catchment area, to all tributaries of the Rhine and via German partner companies in Germany. From its headquarters in the port of Antwerp, the DGA operates a similar business model to Rhenus PartnerShip in Germany. Rhenus previously held 45 percent of the shares; these are now to be increased to 100 percent. HGK Shipping GmbH previously held a majority stake. Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK Shipping:
“We have decided to sell our shares in DGA Shipping because we fundamentally want to exit the investment sector. We will invest the proceeds from the sale in the strategic further development of the HGK Shipping Group, particularly in new business areas. We believe the business at Rhenus is in good hands and wish us every success.”
Strong competitive position
According to Rhenus, the focus is primarily on Rhine traffic to Antwerp. Thomas Maassen:
“We want to expand our connections to Belgium and take a leading role in order to be able to successfully establish ourselves on the local market.”
In the long term, this will ensure a strong competitive position on the Rhine towards Belgium and will be able to rely on the strong network that DGA has built up in the past together with Rhenus and HGK. The DGA has, among other things, both its own transport capacities and a large external fleet. Thomas Maassen:
“Together with HGK, we have greatly expanded DGA’s business in recent years, particularly in the area of chartering. There was and still is a lot of potential here that we now want to develop further.
The redistribution of shares will not change anything for employees or customers. The DGA team will continue to exist as before and ongoing customer projects and partnerships will remain valid.
Source: www.transport-online.de