The year starts with the takeover of P.J. Transport and a busy
Hirtshals office, transporting fish to Europe from the Faroes. Blue
Water opens an office in Greenland.
Blue Water, Esbjerg is making good progress on the shipping
activities (shipbroking, chartering, Lauritzen Reefers, Polar Line
and overseas shipping). In Ireland things are progressing nicely,
whereas we are struggling hard in the UK.
Increased business in Holland results in a Blue Water office in
Amsterdam. France is also busy. A new organization is launched and
activities are divided into shipping and forwarding. Traffic
Managers are responsible for cross services. A merger takes place
between the road transport department (groupage) in Esbjerg and
Blue Water Transport.
Blue Water opens in Brest, assisting the Lorient office, and
several agency agreements are brought into effect. In March, an
office is opened in Canada, and Blue Water, Hanstholm, takes over
agency for Smyril Line.
Blue Water Transport is converted into a 100% Blue Water
controlled company. The staff of the Padborg office increase in
order to cope with the growing number of trucks on the service
to/from Germany. In October, Blue Water opens in Hirtshals.
An overall Management Group is established, consisting of Kurt
Skov, Carsten Eskildsen, Allan Junge, and Jørn Bøllund.
Activities continue to expand, greatly assisted by the continuous
introduction of new technology. On 1 December, Blue Water Odense is
established. The merger between Blue Water and Kurt Beier is
finally approved, bringing the total number of trailers in Blue
Water Transport up to 40.
Blue Water is appointed Danish general agent for Baltic Line
A/S, Sandnes. Ship broking business explodes, and groupage traffic
increases. In February, Blue Water Shipping, Hamburg opens.
On 1 September, we enter into co-operation with the courier
company DHL. The old warehouse is demolished and replaced by a new
insulated cold store, as the shipment of foodstuff to the Middle
East continues. Blue Water Transport becomes a reality with the
acquisition of Haulage company.
Blue Water offices open in Aalborg, the Skaw and Hanstholm. Blue
Water Rotterdam moves into new facilities, and the office in
Esbjerg extended. Blue Water is part owner of Esbjerg Cold Store's
ultra-modern 4,000 sq.m. cold store. Seaport Stevedoring is
established, partly owned by Blue Water.
M/S Polar Nanoq is put into service to Greenland, and Blue Water
is liner agent for a service from Esbjerg to Iceland. As Kurt Skov
turns 40, Blue Water takes over activities from Kühne & Nagel
and D.E.C./Danish Express Company. Following a successful reefer
shipment of feta cheese to Iran, a permanent cooperation is
established with Irano-Hind. On 1 December, Blue Water acquires the
shipping company, Knud Sørensen Shipping.
Business to the North Atlantic expands with the foundation of Polar Line - offering scheduled departures to and from Greenland.