PDL in new hands
A good slice of the cake: Neptune Pacific Line (Neptune), a shipowner and operator active in liner and project markets in the Pacific Ocean, has acquired Pacific Direct Line (PDL) from PDL’s parent holding company, Pacific International Lines (PIL).
The divesting carrier, PIL, a major player in Southeast Asia, owns and operates with a fleet of around 150 containerships, bulkers and multi-purpose vessels. The acquisition of PDL will strengthen Neptune’s Melanesian and Polynesian network, provide a link to Micronesia and the French territories, and enhance connectivity to global markets via strategic hubs in New Zealand and Fiji.
The combined business will link customers’ supply chains across 18 South Pacific markets. Rolf Rasmussen, managing director of Neptune: “By acquiring PDL, we can further develop our mainline shipping network to provide fixed-day services and increase the utilisation of our combined fleet, enabling us to continue to offer competitive freight rates." (mw)