Noatum Maritime And Erkport Form United Global Ro-Ro Joint Venture For Enhanced Shipping Services

Noatum Maritime, a part of AD Ports Group, has formed a new Joint Venture (JV) with Erkport, a Turkish company known for its expertise in the Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping industry. This collaboration aims to launch a Ro-Ro liner business with integrated networks. Noatum Maritime will hold a 60% stake in the JV, while Erkport will own the remaining 40%.

The venture, branded as "United Global Ro-Ro," is strategically positioned to connect key ports within the automotive industry. It will offer an integrated product for global automobile movement and high and heavy transportation. Additionally, it plans to develop regional feeder networks to serve diverse markets and enhance the reach of Ro-Ro liner services across Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, South Africa, the Arabian Gulf, and Asia.

This partnership aims to consolidate both parties' extensive fleet and logistical infrastructure. By combining operational expertise and reliability, they intend to create a business optimised for Ro-Ro feeder shipping operations. The JV will initially deploy 11 vessels across five services, including Container Ro-Ro (ConRo), Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), and Ro-Ro vessels.

Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO of Maritime & Shipping Cluster at AD Ports Group, stated: "The demand for efficient cargo transportation continues to rise, and this strategic partnership allows us to expand in the Ro-Ro shipping industry, consistently explore new markets and capitalise on emerging opportunities." He also noted that this venture would streamline operations through integrated regional feeder networks, reducing transit times and enhancing cargo delivery efficiency.

Erkport's established presence in the Ro-Ro sector makes them an ideal collaborator for this joint venture. Their successful track record in developing and managing their own Ro-Ro business complements Noatum Maritime's extensive global network and capabilities. Tolga Emrah Gezgin, Chairman of Erkport, remarked: "This partnership with Noatum Maritime marks a significant milestone as we join forces to expand the Ro-Ro shipping and vehicle logistics sector."

Gezgin further emphasised that Erkport's market knowledge combined with Noatum Maritime's global reach creates a powerful collaboration. This alliance is expected to unlock opportunities for both companies and their customers by leveraging their combined strengths in the industry.

The joint venture between Noatum Maritime and Erkport signifies a strategic move towards enhancing their presence in the global Ro-Ro shipping market. By integrating their resources and expertise, they aim to provide efficient solutions for automobile movement worldwide while exploring new markets.

With inputs from WAM