Portline expands fleet /28 Sep 2001/

The Portuguese shipping line Portline is adding new ships to its fleet. The bulk carriers "Port Lisboa" and "Port Estoril", worth a total of EUR 120 million and each with a capacity of approximately 53,000 dwt, joined the fleet in August and September this year.

Portline has now placed an order for an additional vessel from the Japanese NKK shipyard. The new unit will have a length of 289 metres and a capacity of 175,000 dwt. The ship will cost about EUR 54 million and join the Portline fleet in 2003.

The "Port Lisboa" is one of the latest additions to the Portline fleet.

Together with the "Vasco da Gama" and the "Bartolomeu Dias", which also have capacities in excess of 150,000 dwt, it will be one of the three largest units in the fleet, which currently concists of nine vessels (including three containerships and one reefer vessel).

The "Port Lisboa" and the "Port Estoril" were the latest additions to the fleet and will be deployed in the Indonesia-Chile and China-India trades, respectively. Portline also operates regular conventional and container services from Portugal to Northern Europe, between the ports of Lisbon, Leixoes and Funchal on Madeira as well as to the Cape Verde Islands, Guinea Bissau and other ports on the west African coast.

The shipping line was established in 1984 as a state-owned venture. It's original role was to supply the thermal power station at Sines with coal. The firm was privatised in 1991. It is now two-thirds owned by Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau (STDM), the remaining third being held by the Espirito Santo Group.

Eiffe, a division of Ahlers Bridge N.V., acts as agents for Portline in the port of Antwerp for more then 30 years.

For more info on Portline's services in Antwerp, please contact:

  • Werner Bogaerts, General Manager Africa & S.America Trade Unit,
    Direct phone: +32 35437358, mail
  • Wim Verbeeck, Commercial Manager Africa & S.America Trade Unit,
    Direct phone: +32 35437349, mail
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