ANL acquires SOFRANA Unilines, adds Townsville link to SE Asia

October 4, 2017

MELBOURNE - CMA CGM has reached an agreement to purchase through its subsidiary, ANL, the majority of the shares in SOFRANA Unilines, a key player in the Pacific Islands regional maritime trade.

SOFRANA operates directly or in partnership a fleet of 10 vessels on eight trade-lanes, servicing 21 ports in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific islands.

 

SOFRIANA Unilines has operated in the South Pacific region for almost 50 years, and will provide enhanced port coverage to ANL and CMA CGM in this area. Acquisition of SOFRANA is expected to be completed by the end of October.

 

CMA CGM’s ANL already offers 16 trade lanes servicing major ports throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, North Asia, South East Asia, Indian Subcontinent and North America.

 

 ANL has just added a new direct link between Townsville and Southeast Asia (Jakarta, Singapore, Port Kelang) and, via its global network, to ports throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania.

 

John Lines, Managing Director of ANL, said ANL has seen a gap in shipping services, “with importers and exporters of Northern Queensland missing out on opportunities”. Discussions with the Port of Townville had confirmed the missing link.

 

“Our new service has been well received and we are pleased to be able to do what we can to boost investment and growth in this important region,” he said.

 

Chris Schultz, ANL General Manager Business Development, said the new services out of Townsville will employ multi-purpose vessels to cater for containerised exports and imports as well as project cargo.

 

Into Townsville, ANL typically carries container freight such as solar farm equipment, household items and retail goods to supply the North Queensland region from Mackay to Cairns and west to Mount Isa.

 

The service also caters for mineral exports from Townsville, as well as refrigerated and project cargo to and from other parts of Australia and the world. www.anl.com.au (ATI).