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Hamburg
Sud Group (Est. 1871) |
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 The Hamburg Süd Group today ranks among the major providers of worldwide ocean transportation and individual, one-source logistics solutions tailored to customer needs. Hamburg Süd is part of the successful Oetker Group, one of the largest and best-known family businesses in Germany. In 1871 the Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft (Hamburg Sud) is founded as a joint-stock company by representatives of 11 Hamburg merchant houses. Three steamers of barely 4,000 GRT sail to Brazil and La Plata in a monthly service. In 1906 the era of the fast steamer on the South America passage began with the "Cap" steamships Cap Vilano and Cap Arcona I. In 1914 the company had over 50 ships totalling around 325,000 GRT, and among them the three large high-speed steamers Cap Finisterre, Cap Trafalgar and Cap Polonio. In 1920 after the loss of the entire fleet in the First World War, reconstruction of liner shipping began with chartered vessels. In 1922 with the Cap Polonio, the glittering era of the sea cruises begins. Hamburg Süd achieves worldwide importance in this sector in the 1920s and 30s. In 1927 the Cap Arcona II is put into service as the flagship of the passenger fleet. In 1936 the Dr. August Oetker company acquires an interest in Hamburg Süd. In 1939 Hamburg Süd has the largest fleet in its history to date – 52 ships of more than 400,000 GRT. By 1945 the company experienced its second total loss of the entire fleet as a result of the Second World War. Ships are lost or have to be surrendered as part of reparation payments. In 1951 the liner service between Europe and South America East Coast was resumed. In 1952 shipping activities are extended to the tramp area. Also there was the start of tanker shipping and expansion of the refrigerated business as part of Rudolf A. Oetker KG (RAO). Oetker Group and Growth of the Hamburg Sud Group: In 1955 Hamburg Sud is fully acquired by the Dr. August Oetker company and becames part of the Oetker Group. In 1956 Hamburg Sud entered into the Mediterranean routes with the takeover and acquisition of Deutsche Levante Linie. In 1957 liner service is resumed between North America and South America under the name Columbus Line. In 1963 Columbus Line commences services between North America and Australia/New Zealand. In 1971 the first full container ships – Columbus New Zealand, Columbus Australia and Columbus America – are deployed between U.S. East Coast and Australia/New Zealand, pioneering containerisation in the Pacific. In 1980 there was the opening of full container services from Europe to South America East Coast. In 1986 Hamburg Sud expanded again with the takeover and acquisition of Deutsche-Nah-Ost-Linie. In 1989 Hamburg Sud acquired a 50% stake in the Spanish line Ybarra y Cia. Sudamerica S.A. In 1990 Hamburg Sud acquired the UK's Furness Withy Group, owner of, among others, the prestigious Royal Mail Line and The Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC). That year they also acquired other companies including the Swedish Laser Lines, Rotterdam Zuid-America Lijn (RZAL) and Havenlijn. In 1998 Hamburg Sud expanded again with the takeover and acquisition of the Brazilian shipping company Aliança and South Seas Steamship. In 1999 they acquired South Pacific Container Lines and Transroll's Europe – South America East Coast liner operations. In 2000 they acquired the Inter-America Services of the American shipping company Crowley American Transport (CAT). In 2003 Hamburg Sud acquired the Ellerman services to the Mediterranean and to India/Pakistan and also expanded by the takeover and acquisition of the Kien Hung liner services Asia – South America in April 2003. On 1 January 2004, the Columbus Line and Crowley American Transport brands are replaced by the well-known and globally important Hamburg Süd brand. In July 2004, the first of a total of six identical 5,552 TEU container ships is christened. Up to autumn 2005, five further sister ships of the Monte class followed. The vessels rank among the container ships with the largest reefer capacity worldwide. In 2005 the Ellerman brand is replaced by the well-known and globally important Hamburg Süd brand. Also in 2005 Hamburg Sud continued its expansion further by the takeover and acquisition of all the shares of Ybarra y Cía. Sudamérica S.A. (Ybarra Sud). In 2006 Hamburg Sud purchased the cross trade activities between Australia / New Zealand and Asia as well as North America from Fesco under the name of FANZL Fesco Australia New Zealand Liner Services. In 2007 Hamburg Sud expanded again by the takeover and acquisition of the liner operations of Costa Container Lines – to the Mediterranean, South America East and North Coast, Central America and the Caribbean – as from 1 December 2007. Also in 2007 the brand Ybarra y Cía. Sudamérica S.A. (Ybarra Sud) is replaced by the Hamburg Süd Iberia S.A brand. In 2008 the "FANZL Fesco Australia New Zealand Liner Services" brand is replaced by the Hamburg Süd brand. Then from the 1st January 2009, the Hamburg Süd shipping group replaced its Costa Container Lines (CCL) brand with the Hamburg Süd name in order to present itself worldwide under a unified brand. Hamburg Sud www.hamburgsud.com Aliança www.alianca.com.br Costa Container Lines www.costacontainer.com Oetker Group www.oetker-gruppe.de |