SINGAPORE-BASED but Japanese-owned Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced an agreement to acquire controlling stakes three US west coast container terminals, reports Bloomberg.
ONE has signed definitive agreements to acquire a 51 per cent stake in each of TraPac LLC and Yusen Terminals LLC from Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), respectively.
TraPac operates the TraPac Los Angeles container terminal at the Port of Los Angeles and a second container terminal at the Port of Oakland. YTI operates the Yusen Container Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles.
"These acquisitions are part of the integration of the container shipping businesses from the parent companies into ONE.
"“The recent disruptions to the supply chain due to Covid-19 have highlighted the importance container terminals play in keeping global trade flowing. The newly acquired container terminals will safeguard ONE's access to terminal capacity in key and strategic gateways, support its growth ambitions and enhance its service offerings to customers."
ONE was formed in 2017 through the combination of Japan’s three biggest container shipping lines, NYK Line, "K" Line and MOL.
The new company kicked off operations on April 1, 2018 and currently ranks as the world’s seventh largest container ship operator controlling a fleet of more than 200 containerships and 1.5 million TEU capacity, according to Alphaliner.
The closing of the terminal transactions are subject to the approval of the relevant authorities. said the company press release.
“The recent disruptions to the supply chain due to Covid-19 have highlighted the importance container terminals play in keeping global trade flowing. The newly acquired container terminals will safeguard ONE’s access to terminal capacity in key and strategic gateways, support its growth ambitions and enhance its service offerings to customers.”
AThe closing of the terminal transactions are subject to the approval of the relevant authorities.