News

07.02.2007

Containerships rebrands South Baltic services and agencies

Containerships is rebranding the South Baltic services and agencies built up under the Kursiu Linija name. From February 1, 2007 all Kursiu Linija services will be operated under the Containerships name. Containerships will also have its own agents in Lithuania and Latvia, under the names of Containerships Lithuania and Containerships Latvia. These replace UAB Arijus and Kursiu Linija Latvia.

“These name changes will help our customers to identify with our group, which is now a door-to-door leader right across the Baltic and beyond,” says Sigurjon Markusson, managing director of Containerships. “But the experienced personnel, the ships and the brilliant service which was developed under the Kursiu Linija banner remain the same. The key staff at UAB Arijus have joined us, and since we merged with Kursiu Linija last year our investment in improved services and systems has further strengthened our South Baltic operations. We have fixed ourselves ambitious targets and intend to grow the volume of traffic we handle by 15 per cent in 2007. In 2006 we handled 305,000 teu, an increase of 16 per cent compared to 2005. This month we have substantially increased capacity by replacing the 350 teu Passaden with the 750 teu Spica, and in March we will also replace the Baltic Sea with a larger vessel.”

The Finland, Russia, Poland, Sweden service has also been enhanced from January 30, when the Carina made its first call in Klaipeda. She will add in Klaipeda into her rotation, which will then be: Helsinki – St. Petersburg – Klaipeda – Gdansk – Sodertalje. This will enable UK and European shippers to use Containerships to reach the east coast of Sweden, as its growing shortsea network will now allow it to trans-ship Sweden-bound cargo from UK and Rotterdam in Klaipeda.

Containerships Group is a door-to-door short sea carrier providing regular services linking key industrial and retail customers in Finland, Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and Western Europe via ports in the Baltic, North Sea and UK areas.

Containerships Group is a Finland based joint venture between Finnish Container Finance Ltd Oy and The Icelandic transportation company Eimskip. The Containerships Group now operates 11 vessels in the Baltic Sea region with frequent sailing schedules serving major ports in Finland (Helsinki), Russia (St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad), Scandinavia (Aarhus, Denmark), the Baltic States (Klaipeda, Liepaja), Poland (Gdansk) and western Europe (including. Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Teesport and Immingham)