SOUTH AFRICA – Danish shipping company A. P. Moller – Maersk has announced its intention to form a joint venture with Grindrod Group in order to enhance its capabilities as an integrated logistics player in South Africa.
“Through this proposed joint venture, the logistics activities of Grindrod Intermodal business and the ocean activities of Ocean Africa Container Lines (OACL) will complement Maersk’s current ocean capabilities and logistics & services, enabling customers seamless access to a wider range of end-to-end supply chain solutions,” read the press release.
Maersk will have a 51 percent share in this proposed joint venture which will increase access to landside infrastructure and capabilities which are critical to delivering reliable logistics solutions.
Jonathan Horn, Maersk’s southern Africa and islands area managing director, said that: “We are looking forward to partnering with Grindrod in this proposed joint venture so that we can offer our customers even better value and true end-to-end integrated logistics solutions in South Africa. We will have a far greater ability to seamlessly integrate solutions between the ocean and the landside whilst weaving into our organization an increased capability and experience through colleagues from Grindrod, who has long held a strong reputation in the landside logistics space.”
“We will have a far greater ability to seamlessly integrate solutions between ocean and the landside whilst weaving into our organisation an increased capability and experience through colleagues from Grindrod, who has long held a strong reputation in the landside logistics space”
Bringing together logistics operations skills and capabilities under this new proposed joint venture will create a base for growth and enable Maersk to excel in the logistics & services products execution through better-serving customers via intermodal solutions in trucking, rail, depots, warehousing, and ocean feedering.
Xolani Mbambo, Chief Executive Officer, GRINDROD Freight Services, said: “Grindrod has been working with Maersk for many years in an area that both organizations are passionate about, understanding our customers’ requirements and finding cost-effective and efficient routes to market. Our combined service offering will provide further flexibility and will ultimately contribute to making a positive difference in South Africa’s trade with the world.”
Customers looking for end-to-end solutions in South Africa will continue to work with Maersk, however after closing most of the landside execution will be done by the proposed new joint venture.
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