Thor Dahl News

CP Ships has reached agreement with Thor Dahl Shipping AS of Norway to acquire Christensen Canadian African Line (CCAL). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of April. The acquisition includes the CCAL brand and three Astrakhan-class ships, designed to carry containers, breakbulk and Ro-Ro cargo. CCAL, which will operate as part of the CP Ships subsidiary, Americana Ships, offers a 21-day multi-purpose service between Montreal and South Africa under the CCAL brand.

Slovenian shipping firm Intereuropa and port operator Luka Koper canceled a planned merger because the government was demanding the right to veto any management decisions in the new firm. The two companies had planned to merge on July 1. The state owns 51 percent of Luka, while Intereuropa is privately owned. The state's equity in the new company would have been 35.7 percent. "There will be no merger under such conditions where the government would have the right to veto practically every management decision," Radovan Vrabec, Intereuropa's deputy chief executive, said. He said the two companies would be ready to continue merger talks if the government eased its demands. Vrabec said the two firms would not suffer short-term damage due to the failure of the merger.