OT Africa Line

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OT Africa Line
Type Limited
Founded 1975
Headquarters Birmingham, UK
Industry Transport, Shipping, Cargo
Products Shipping, Cargo, Freight Distribution
Revenue 93 million EUR (2007)
Employees 30+
Website http://www.otal.com

OT Africa Line (commonly known as OTAL) is a specialist shipping line exclusively serving routes between Europe and West Africa.[1] OTAL work exclusively in the transportation (container shipping fleet) industry, operating a line of container and RoRo vessels. It is a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group[2], the third largest shipping company in the world.

OTAL is based in Birmingham, UK, and has numerous agents across Europe and West Africa.

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[edit] History

RoRo Vessel Kagoro
RoRo Vessel Kagoro

OTAL was established in 1975 as a pioneering, roll-on roll-off congestion beating transport system to Nigeria. Nigeria went through a massive construction boom with the discovery of oil in the mid 1970s[3] and the need to provide construction materials and equipment resulted in port congestion. Roll-on roll-off ships can load and discharge quickly, taking up a minimum of quay space and overcoming congestion difficulties.

In 1999 OTAL was taken over by Bolloré, a French investment and industrial holding group[4].

In 2006 CMA CGM purchases OTAL, at the same time acquiring Delmas, Setramar and a 50% stake in SudCargos to become the third largest .

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ OTAL Home Page. otal.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-03.
  2. ^ CMA CGM Subsidiaries Page. Retrieved on 2008-12-03.
  3. ^ Financial Times Country Information. Retrieved on 2008-12-03.
  4. ^ Marinelink.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-03.