The British container shipping company Ellerman City Liners (ECL), part of GB Global, has taken over the Norwegian shortsea operator Viasea Shipping from ColliCare Holding.
The companies did not disclose the purchase price. Viasea was founded in 2016 and currently offers fixed connections between the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland and Lithuania. The acquisition significantly expands ECL’s European network and strengthens its position in short sea shipping. It also gives the shipping company access to additional ports and customer structures. Viasea has locations in Moss, Rotterdam, Gdynia, Klaipeda and Immingham.
ECL sees the integration of the shortsea specialist as an opportunity to increase the reliability of its own service and expand its range of multimodal transport solutions. These include rail connections in Poland, Hungary and Romania, which are intended to integrate the hinterland more closely.
“We are delighted about the opportunities that this takeover brings. It is an important step in completing our European infrastructure jigsaw and enables us to deliver a truly comprehensive door-to-door service across Europe,” emphasizes Peter Andrews, Managing Director of Ellerman City Liners.
Andrews goes on to say that by rethinking and pushing the boundaries in the shortsea segment, they can exceed customer expectations and offer smarter, more connected logistics solutions.
By integrating into GB Global’s structures, the combined network will also have access to increased resources and investment. The Group plans to invest more in technology, infrastructure and processes to enable faster development cycles.
