Belgium-based intermodal logistics operator European Containers (ECS) and Containerships have agreed to cooperate in a bid to expand their European coverage and provide improved performance.
The partnership will reduce CO2 emissions from land transport through combining their operations in continental Europe, the UK and Ireland.
ECS sales director Bart van’t Hof said: "Customers will see two companies act as one with a combined passion, drive for high-level performance and listening to the real questions of our customers.
"We will complement business profiles in a seamless way without compromises, resulting in more sustainable and efficient transportation."
Cooperation at the level of sales and customer service will be made possible through common representation and, as part of this decision, ECS will be appointed as an agent of Containerships in Italy.
In addition, the common container pool will provide better container availability and an enhanced competiveness generated from reduced empty positioning costs.
Containerships CEO Frédéric Leca said: "We serve different transport corridors but both have a strong presence in Western Europe.
"Together we aim for a great deal of synergy, improving the European container transport network."
In October 2014, Containerships collaborated with Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhederei (OPDR) in order to provide a semi-direct service from Agadir, Morocco to St Petersburg with fast transit times.
Image: The ECS and Containerships partnership will improve service and reduce emissions. Photo: courtesy of ECS.
