DFDS’ Korsnas deal

In what will be the biggest shake up in its structure since 1985 when the stevedores and port authority were combined under municipality ownership, the Port of Gothenburg (Göteborg Hamns AB) is to reorganise its stevedoring arm into three separate divisions, container, ro-ro and car traffic, with the intention of privatising them in the shortto-medium term.

DFDS Tor Line has reached agreement in principle to take over the transport operation of Swedish paper shipper Korsnäs AB from its mill in Gävle to the UK and Belgium. Assuming the deal goes ahead, handover is expected later this year.

Subject to the approval of the relevant competition authorities, AP Moller-Maersk subsidiary Norfolkline has signed an agreement sell its container division, Norfolk Line Containers BV, to DFDS Tor Line, part of DFDS Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Port of Göteborg is becoming even more of a hub for ro-ro traffic between other Scandinavian/ Baltic ports and ports on the European continent and Great Britain. Last year, the port handled more than 574,000 ro-ro units, and new services are being added.

Scandinavian Ro- Ro Construction AB (SRC) has been awarded another order for 200 LOT trailer trestles.

MacGregor Group’s RoRo Ships division has signed a contract with Danish operator DFDS Tor Line to design and commission a large linkspan for installation in the outer harbour at Immingham in the UK, where the operator has a concession for a new terminal. Dredging work has already started and the linkspan is due to be operational by early 2006.