CONTI-LINES
100 YEARS AS LEADERS IN SHIPPING Powered by Inside Marine
Platinum supporters
insidemarine.com
CONTI-LINES
I PROFILE
Conti-Lines is a family-run company with a long-standing tradition of ship owning and operating. With a speciality in offering maritime transportation services using a diversified fleet of handysize to ultramax dry bulk vessels, the company offers clients a first-class service. Director Gregory Brion explained more to Hannah Barnett.
C
onti-Lines has always been
Director, said. “We operate a vast network:
client-orientated. Operating
besides our Antwerp headquarters, we have
out of five worldwide offices,
offices in London, Istanbul, Casablanca,
with an Antwerp HQ and staff of over 50
Dubai and Hong Kong. Plans are on the table
employees, the company provides flexi-
to also open an office in Senegal.
bility to customers worldwide.
“This network allows us to quickly
“We are very close to our clients and spare
respond to our customers’ request and
no effort to meet their needs,” Gregory Brion,
demands, which is key to us! An absolute
92 Inside marine
asset is our own fleet of vessels – it is our firm intention to further expand the fleet in order to supply an even better service.
A company overview Conti-Lines works closely with clients to provide the logistical solution which suits them best, be it servicing steel mills, raw material producers, agriculturalists, other commodity traders or industrial end-users. The company has its main focus in the dry bulk segment, with a strong presence in almost all trade flows. Conti-Lines operates a diversified mix of high-standard chartered tonnage,
Conti-Lines, Director Gregory Brion
owned tonnage and joint venture vessels. On average, the company operates a fleet
“In 2015, we decided to begin an asset-
of 25 to 35 ships at any given time. It is a
based approach,” Mr Brion explained. “So,
proud subsidiary of the Conti-Lines Group
we started selling service-orientated activ-
which dates back to 1923, meaning it is
ities and went from being operators with all
celebrating its centenary this year. The
agencies to becoming an owner-operator.
company has evolved steadily since it
We bought five second-hand vessels, of
was founded.
which we have already sold two.”
Inside marine 93
94 Inside marine
CONTI-LINES
I PROFILE
For specific trades, Conti-Lines has
The new strategy involves taking inspiration
developed several joint ventures, including
from the company’s experience of deep-sea
with Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) in Japan.
operations around Africa.
“We have been very active in Japan and
“I started the short-sea services based
have been working with MOL for more
on the already successful model of deep-
than 18 years,” Mr Brion said. “In 2020, we
sea business that my brother, Jean-Yves
secured deals with Japanese owners for
Brion, and his team have put in place over
long term-chartered newbuilds, varying
the years,” Mr Brion explained.
between 38,000 and 64,000DWT. So,
As part of the short-sea strategy, the
from handysize to supermax. The handy-
company runs services out of Antwerp
size’s are used for our steel operations,
into Morocco and Algeria, having already
whereas the supermax is more for
established a joint venture with Marine
concentrates and grains.”
Chartering Services (MCS) in 2017. “MCS has routes out of the Adriatic into
Short-sea strategy
northern Africa,” Mr Brion explained. “The
Though deep-sea services are Conti-Lines
company goes into Algeria and Morocco
core established business, short-sea activity
and back, via Spain and Portugal to the
has been a significant recent development.
UK. So basically, our two services cross
96 Inside marine
each other at Gibraltar, and this joint
Coastal and acquired our first short-sea
venture has been going on successfully
vessel the CL Atlas, a 6,000DWT,” Mr Brion
for six years.”
said. “Recently, we have also made an
The company also found it had to invest in its own tonnage in order to
order for two 3,800DWT newbuilds that will launch in early 2024.
get adequate vessels for the short-sea
“We intend to become one of the major
market. “This year, we created Conti-Lines
short-sea operators with regards to trading between Europe, Turkey and West Africa. We see that many of the well-established short-sea owners are focused on northern Europe, like the UK into the Baltic Seas. We are looking the other way, towards the Mediterranean all the way to West Africa. “We have a strong network across the Mediterranean and understand what is needed from a good agent. Our partner MCS has been active for more than 20 years in the Adriatic. And of course, we have been active for 100 years in Antwerp now. So, we know the ins and outs of the business and that’s something that gives added value to the services we provide.”
Partnerships for the future The company is looking ahead with optimism taking the future of the entire industry into account. Diversification is very important, more specifically developing warehouse activities and port operations.
Inside marine 97
98 Inside marine
Inside marine 99
CONTI-LINES
I PROFILE
One long-term investment comes in the
storage of a wide range of refrigerated
form of a venture with Seafrigo to build
and frozen perishables. The development
a sustainable frozen food warehouse
of a frozen warehouse will allow the
with space for more than 40,000 pallets
alliance of the two companies to expand
on a site of approximately six hectares.
its maritime network through strong inter-
Seafrigo Antwerp NV will be responsible for its operation and the processing and
national partnerships. The warehouse offers essential added value for the Antwerp cold chain segment, given the very high utilisation rate in the temperature-controlled warehouses and the current market demand. As a family-owned enterprise, Mr Brion and his brother represent the third generation. The future is bright with many plans and objectives. Like many European companies, Conti-Lines also has its sights set on 2030, as part of the EU’s commitment to reach Net Zero.
100 Inside marine
“We know that there will be a massive turnover in vessels and that we will need to invest in newbuilds with innovative technologies and new ways of consumption,” Mr Brion concluded. “In my grandfather’s day, the challenge was the invention of the container. My father, Jean-Frederic Brion, who is CEO, had to cope with globalisation and our trades moving to the Black Sea area and the Far East. The sustainable and environmental question will be something very important for our generation. “As an anecdote: the company started in 1923 with the Founder acquiring two short-sea vessels. On 7th February 2023 – the day we celebrated our 100-year anniversary - we also ordered two new short-sea vessels. Though the company has gone through many stages and evolutions in the intervening years, history repeats itself in the end.”
n
Inside marine 101