[250613.EN.SEA] Maersk Sells ERS Dutch Intermodal Rail Operator To Freightliner

DANISH shipping giant Maersk Line has sold ERS, its Rotterdam-based European intermodal rail operator, to the British-based Freightliner Group, subject to regulatory approval.

"The acquisition of ERS is a good fit with our growth strategy following our entry into the Polish and German bulk-haul markets," said Freightliner Group CEO Peter Maybury.

ERS Railways managing director Frank Schuhholz will continue to lead the business following the acquisition, reported Lloyd's Loading List of London.

Said Maersk Line vice president Soren Toft: "I am confident that Freightliner is a good owner of ERS Railways, while Maersk Line can focus on developing our current and future deep sea liner network in Europe and other parts of the world."

ERS has a fleet of 16 multi-system electric locomotives for international cross-border transport and 550 intermodal railcars.

"Both Freightliner in the UK and ERS in continental Europe have been significant service providers to Maersk Line for more than 15 years and this relationship is strengthened further by the long-term contract entered into between Maersk Line and ERS Railways as part of the acquisition," said a Freightliner statement.

European Rail Shuttle was established in 1994 as a joint venture intermodal rail freight operator between Dutch railway group NS Cargo and the then AP Moller-Maersk Line.

The operator serves 450 customers today, including freight forwarders, carriers and logistics providers, offering intermodal services from European ports Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Lubeck and Rostock.

Since privatisation from British Rail's freight division in 1996, Freightliner has worked closely with operators of the British major ports and is now owned by Bahrain-based investment group Arcapita. It has an annual turnover of EUR360 million (US$563.9 million).

Source : HKSG.