The Rationale for Shipping M&A
The most often quoted reason for consolidation is the reduction in unit costs which can be obtained by an operator with a larger volume of business. The ways in which these reductions can be achieved in practice are discussed in a new white paper, Consolidation in the liner industry, published by Drewry. Consolidation may put a shipping line in a better position to chart its future, with larger volumes and a greater control of its own destiny. • COSCO and CSCL’s merger advances them to fourth place (previously sixth and seventh respectively) though around 4% points behind CMA-CGM. Other carrier combinations could achieve comparable scale and there has been plenty of speculation around the case for shipping lines of the same nationality to merge.
Gulf Bridge Express Service to End
The Gulf Bridge Express Service will shortly be terminated with the last roundtrip voyage being MV Saint Nikolaos voyage 00008S, ETA New Orleans on April 22, 2015. Alternative services from/to Gulf ports of United States and Mexico will be covered by the GCS and the GS1 as illustrated below. These services offer a comprehensive network in South America both directly and also via transhipment with other HapagLloyd mainline- and feeder-vessels at the ports of Manzanillo (Panama), Cartagena (Colombia) and Caucedo (Dominican Republic). Service between the ports of Veracruz and Altamira with the ports of Houston and New Orleans is assured through the collective services of the GCS, GS1, MGX and the AX2.
