The recently combined
operation of British-owned
Hull Blyth with SA-based
Mainport Africa Shipping and
Kestrel Maritime will see all
three gaining added muscle
from the amalgamation,
according to Hull Blyth’s Leigh
Walker, who will be country
manager for the triumvirate.
Accra-based ships agency
specialists in West Africa for
over 160 years, Hull Blyth has
add strength to its southern
African identity with the
acquisition of the two SA
operations.
“We have always wanted a
greater presence in the region,”
Walker said. “Mainport’s
long-standing reputation
throughout southern Africa,
its customer base, and
ships agency port coverage
of Richards Bay, Durban,
East London, Ngqura, Port
Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape
Town and Saldanha Bay, helps
to achieve this.
“You can then add sister
company Kestrel Maritime’s
expertise in acting as cargo
brokers specialising in project
breakbulk, bulk, abnormal and
heavy lift cargoes.”
This new arrangement will
improve the range of services
that Hull Blyth is able to offer
its already diverse range of
principals, group chairman
James Baldwin told FTW
from his London office.
“We are keen to capitalise
on Mainport’s good name
in the region to establish
a further presence in
neighbouring countries,” he
added.
Mainport and
Kestrel’s existing
management and
brand names will be
retained within the
wider Hull Blyth
group, and the
former directors of
the two companies
– Captain Brian
Hawkins and Fiona
Minogue-Calitz
– will hold the same
positions in the new group.
INSERT
Accra-based Hull Blyth
has added strength to
its southern African
identity with the
acquisition of the
two SA operations.
