Eitzen-backed Christiania Shipping says its focus will remain on consolidation and renewal in the chemical tanker sector after its takeover of Navquim Holding.
The deal to buy 100% of the operator and its 13 stainless chemical carriers from France’s Sogestran Shipping was completed on Wednesday.
Christiania announced the takeover in September as the latest in a long line of merger-and-acquisition deals for the Norwegian family.
The company now has a fleet of 42 vessels on the water, of which 29 are chemical carriers and 13 are LPG vessels, with several newbuildings on order.
The expanded Christiania has also increased its presence in Europe with offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Rotterdam, Marbella and Golfe Juan.
Christiania chief executive Fridtjof Eitzen said: “We are very pleased to conclude the transaction to acquire Navquim.
“Our strategy is to secure cargo, consolidate and renew, and this acquisition is strategically important to us,” he added.
He said the deal will add a fleet of advanced stainless steel chemical carriers, a high-performing team, important and long-standing contracts and valuable technical know-how to the Christiania Shipping platform.
“Through the increased scale we can improve our offering and widen our reach, signalling our determination to provide the best possible service to our long-term charterers and customers, now and into the future,” Eitzen said.
The plan is to integrate Navquim into the Christiania Shipping “family” over the next few months, the company said.
‘One unit’
The acquired operation will adopt the Christiania brand.
“We will operate as one unit, sharing the same culture and values, and move forward with an aligned commitment to be the preferred and trusted infrastructure partner for our customers,” Christiania added.
Sogestran managing director Benoist Grosjean said: “In line with our group’s maritime ambition of focusing on specialised niche markets, I am glad to confirm that Christiania Shipping has now officially acquired 100% of Navquim.
“It is a satisfaction to hand over this company to Christiania, which is bringing a long-term vision and perspective to the activity, its staff and crew. I wish a very successful integration of Navquim within the Christiania Shipping family,” he added.
Navquim’s fleet was built out of the ships that had been in the fleets of Team Tankers, Naviera Quimica and the De Poli Group.
