Delphis-owned Hamburg feeder operator Team Lines is being wound down.
It will cease trading on 11 February, it said in a letter to customers signed by Delphis' Alexander Saverys and Team managing director Benjamin Weinacht.
They blamed deteriorating market conditions in northern Europe in recent years as well as ongoing consolidation for making a continuation of the business "unsustainable".
All commitments will be honoured and the wind-down will be conducted in an orderly way, they added.
No bookings will be taken for cargoes arriving after 11 February.
Saverys told TradeWinds that the move is sad news for the company, which still employs more than 40 staff.
He added: "They are our first priority now. Thankfully Hamburg is a maritime town and we are working very hard to find new homes for them.
"If you've been following the container markets, this does not come as a surprise.
All our customers are consolidating and we had to take a decision, and that decision was to wind down the business in an orderly fashion. This is not a bankruptcy or an insolvency
Alexander Saverys
"All our customers are consolidating and we had to take a decision, and that decision was to wind down the business in an orderly fashion. This is not a bankruptcy or an insolvency."
Team was acquired by Delphis in 2006 from Finnlines for €40m (then $51m), when it was the second-largest feeder operation in northern Europe.
At that time it had a fleet of 23 chartered vessels and employed 129 staff.
Single ship to be returned
Saverys confirmed the operation was mainly vessel-sharing agreements, but it still has one vessel, the 648-teu Hanni (built 1998), which is operating in Swden.
This will be returned to owner Jurgen Ohle when the company ceases trading.
Team was founded in 1991 by Hamburg shipping companies HM Gehrckens, Ernst Russ, Johannes Ick and Mathies Reederei Schwedendienst.
It has been contacted for further information.
