From 1st January 2017 the expansion and consolidation of all the commercial short sea bulk activities of Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd and Nova Marine Carriers SA, the company said in its press release.
Notwithstanding both Groups’ commercial networking offices, the coordination of all chartering and operation activities will be channeled from Nova Marine’s HQ in Lugano, Switzerland. This will include the effective control of both Groups’ vessels and contracts. This consolidation is a tangible example of two traditionally shortsea shipowners joining forces to service its mutual customers with a modern and versatile fleet of around 60 vessels ranging from 5,000 dwt up to 15,000 dwt.
Carisbrooke Shipping controls a combination of 48 shortsea, MPP, and bulk carriers (including grab fitted vessels) ranging from 5,000 dwt up to 13,400 dwt with an emphasis on UK Continent/Mediterranean short sea market as their core business with grains, fertilizers, coal, forest products etc. With offices in Cowes (Isle of Wight -UK) and Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, Carisbrooke is also actively involved in dry bulk trades within and between European, Trans-Atlantic, Americas and Far East markets.
Nova Marine Carriers is currently controlling a fleet of 50 vessels ranging from 5,000 dwt up to 57,000 dwt bulk carriers including the development of rapidly expanding fleet of cement pneumatic vessels. Nova’s core business is mainly on Baltic-North Europe/Mediterranean-Black Sea trades with 25/32,000 dwt grab fitted bulk carriers and they have close association within the steel and cement industries. Furthermore, Nova is active in PG/Indian Ocean markets and in the Americas. Nova’s headquarters are located in Lugano with branch offices in Rotterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Madrid, Montreal and Bogota.