The shipping group Columbia, owned by the German entrepreneur Heinrich Schoeller, is entering into a strategic cooperation with the US-based Crowley Corporation to expand activities in the US “Jones Act” market as well as in North and Central America.
The Americans have now made the “strategic cooperation agreement” with the Columbia Group public. It is primarily intended to expand the ship management solutions of both companies for their customers by bundling expertise from the shipping, logistics and energy sectors. The initial focus areas of the cooperation include ship management services, ship performance optimisation and procurement strategy support for shipowners.
Crowley brings Jones Act expertise
Mark O’Neil, CEO and President of Columbia Group, which includes Columbia Shipmanagement, MPP shipping company AAL, Hanse Bereederung and CSM Energy, said: “Through the synergy of our strengths and similar values, Columbia Group and Crowley are positioned to drive transformative change in the U.S. market.”
James C. Fowler, senior vice president and general manager of Crowley Shipping, said customers can get customised, scalable solutions through the global footprint of Columbia Group’s international shipping services and Crowley’s experience serving the US, Latin American and Caribbean markets.
Crowley is a privately owned, US-based and operated shipping, energy and logistics solutions company for the commercial and government sectors – with US$3.5bn in annual revenue and more than 170 vessels, most of which are part of the Jones Act fleet, according to the company.
