For over thirty years, ACL's pioneering spirit has been the driving
force that has made this company a leader in the North Atlantic Trade
and one of the most respected names in the ocean transportation.
A consortium of five major European steamship companies join together
to meet the high capital investment involved in building and operating
an innovative fleet of roll-on/roll-off containerships. This historic
union, the first of the container age, results in the creation of Atlantic
Container Line (ACL), serving the trade between Europe and East Coast
of North America. The "Atlantic Span," is the first of ACL?s
four G-1 (first generation) vessels. These 700 TEU Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO)
Containerships are the most unique in the world and dramatically change
the concept of transportation.
With the introduction of the first computerized intermodal transport system
"Route Code," ACL offers shippers a door-to-door service that continuously
updates through-transport tariffs for repeat shipments. Six, 900 TEU, G-2 (second
generation) RORO/Containerships are added to ACL?s fleet, increasing it
to ten vessels. ACL becomes the only ocean carrier to handle both containerized
and uncontainerized cargo with multiple sailings each week to/from every major
port in Europe.
ACL
introduces its simplified alternative to the bill of lading, "Datafreight
Receipt," the first electronically transmitted documentation system.
Providing customers with added-value inland transport services in North
America, ACL forms a wholly owned trucking company for improved short
haul trucking capabilities and its own container and chassis maintenance
and repair operation.
ACL pioneers SPEED (Europe) and COMPASS (North America), the first "real
time" computer system in the transportation industry. The G-1 vessels
are lengthened, increasing capacity to 1100 TEUs. ACL introduces direct
service to the Canadian ports of Montreal and Halifax.
To better service customers through enhanced job performance, a record
number of ACL staff attend further education studies and management courses.
Intense project studies on the future G-3 vessel fleet are completed and
new building orders are placed.
Five, newly constructed ACL G-3 (third generation) RORO/Containerships,
the largest of their kind in the world (2160 TEUs), enter the North Atlantic
service. The G-3s are fuel efficient and highly flexible for a wide mix
of cargoes. The G-2 vessels are phased out and scrapped.
receives the President's "E" Award for Export Service for its
outstanding contribution to the Export Expansion program of the United
States. As part of an overall rationalization program on the North Atlantic,
ACL enters a space sharing and charter agreement with Hapag-Lloyd. Focusing
on long-term corporate strategies and successful growth, ACL restructures
its US operations. A subsidiary is formed to operate ACL?s non-shipping
sector in trucking, maintenance & repair, container storage, liner
agency and stevedoring services. The G-3 vessels are lengthened (G-3L)
to 292 meters increasing capacity to 3,100 TEUs. The G-1 vessels are phased
out and scrapped.
Corporate headquarters are relocated from Southampton, England to South
Plainfield, NJ. ACL?s original consortium ownership is dissolved.
Transatlantic, a member of the Bilspedition Group, acquires 100% of Atlantic
Container Line. Olav Rakkenes becomes chairman of ACL initiating one of
the most dramatic and successful corporate turnarounds in maritime history.
Formal quality programs are set in place.
In a move to restore profitability, ACL streamlines its operations, concentrating
solely on its core North Atlantic market. Support services (trucking,
stevedoring and M&R) and support functions (documentation, EDP, accounting
and logistics) in the US and Canada are outsourced. Slot exchanges with
other container lines increase, enabling ACL to expand its services and
offer five weekly sailings between North America and Europe ? more
than any other carrier in the trade.
A public offering for ACL by Bilspedition is successful and the company
is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. ACL passes the break-even mark after
several years of losses and reports a profit. Every ACL European office
achieves ISO 9002 certification.
ACL embarks on a corporate strategy to make operations more independent,
self-reliant and quality-driven. As a result of this strategy, ACL modifies
schedules to improve transit times and reliability. ACL purchases "Atlantic
Conveyor" from Cunard. The "Atlantic Compass" becomes the
first oceangoing cargo vessel to be certified by the Swedish National
Maritime Administration under the ISM Code (International Management Code
for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention).
ACL?s pretax profit almost doubles. The company continues to gain
financial strength. Number of shareholders increase, moving ACL to the
Main List of the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company receives "Lloyd?s
Loading List" award for the best on-time performance in the trade.
ACL purchases new 20' containers, 40' high-cube reefers and high-cube
dry containers and chassis. ACL acquires full ownership of its fleet with
the final purchase of the "Atlantic Cartier" from CGM. The "Atlantic
Concert" and "Atlantic Companion" receive ISM certification.
ACL consolidates operations with one customer service center per country
in North America and Europe. Preparing for the new age of electronic communication,
ACL launches its web site.
ACL celebrates its thirty year anniversary of service on the North Atlantic.
The ATLAS software is developed to dramatically simplify present work
processes and offers customers a more complete and personalized service.
With the certification of the "Atlantic Cartier" and "Atlantic
Conveyor," ACL?s entire fleet becomes ISM certified. The price
of the ACL stock hits all time high on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
The first phase of ATLAS, the internally developed computer system was
implemented, leading to cost savings and improvements in service quality.
3,000 new container units delivered. Ship management functions were taken
over by ACL Ship Management AB. ACL share was split 2:1. The company receives
the "Lloyd's Loading List " Award for Best Customer Services
to North America.
The slot charter with Polish Ocean Line ends. A third Gulf Service is added increasing our services to 6 sailings. 500 new flatbed trailers are delivered. ISM Safety and Environment Certificates for all vessels are endorsed. The company receives "Marine Money's" Award for Best Return on Asset/Profit Margin; "Logistics Management & Distribution Report's" Quest for Quality; "Lloyd's Loading List" North Atlantic Transit Time Award. Phase II of ATLAS is implemented.
ACL Ship Management outsourced to B&N Nordsjofrakt. Delivery of 2,400 new containers. The company receives "Logistics Management & Distribution Report's" Quest for Quality; "Lloyd's Loading List" North Atlantic Transit Time Award. Grimaldi Group, Naples becomes the largest ACL shareholder with 44%. All 5 vessels completed 10 days of dry-docking in Brest. Additional new service increases ACL's portfolio to 7 weekly transatlantic sailings. ACL sold their stake of 49.5% in Columbus Intermodal Joint Venture. A record high Return On Capital Employed (30%), compared with (12%) in '99.
ACL began taking delivery of 4,225 new equipment units. The Board of Directors increased to 6 members. Mr. Gianluca Grimaldi and Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi, of the Grimaldi Group of Italy, were elected as Directors together with the current Directors. ACL started a new, weekly Container/RORO transshipment service from North America to West Africa. The Grimaldi Group's shareholding exceeded the 45% threshold and launched a mandatory bid for all the outstanding shares at NOK 97 per share, then increased its stake in ACL to 81%, and then to 91%. ACL started a new, weekly RORO transshipment service between North America and the Mediterranean. ACL signed a five-year contract with Virginia International Terminal. ACL received the Logistics Management & Distribution Report's Quest for Quality Award. ACL received the Lloyd's Loading List North Atlantic Transit Time Award.
ACL began taking delivery of 2000 x 40' chassis, 500 x 20' chassis and 25 x 48'-80' extendible flatbeds. ACL Deutchland GmbH became a direct subsidiary of Atlantic Container Line AB. The Oslo Stock Exchange resolved to de-list the company, following a resolution from an extraordinary shareholders meeting. At the annual shareholders meeting, Andrew Abbott and Diego Pacella were elected to the Board of Directors. ACL Belgium N.V. was renamed Atlantic Container Line Benelux, N.V., reflecting the new geographical territory covered from the Antwerp office. AIM (Automated Information Messenger), ACL's innovative e-commerce tool, is introduced, allowing customers access to a variety of shipment information. ACL begins providing agency services for the Grimaldi Group in the northern UK. ACL purchases the RORO multipurpose vessel, Grande Argentina and time charters it to the Grimaldi Group. The Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement (TACA) receives antitrust clearance from the European Commission after years of litigation. Atlantic Container Line LLC, a U.S. limited liability company (LLC) is formed.
ACL centralized its vessel planning and haz-mat screening departments to Liverpool,
England. ACL's fleet of five G-3 vessels received their ISO 14001 Environmental
Management Systems Certification from Det Norske Veritas. Atlantic Cartier
and Atlantic Conveyor reflagged as Swedish vessels, putting the entire
fleet of GIII-Class vessels under Swedish flag. ACL purchases the RORO multipurpose
vessel Grande Brasile, reflags it to Swedish flag and time charters it
to the Grimaldi Group. The ACL/Grimaldi logistical operations were combined
in Antwerp. The European Court of First Instance cancelled the fines brought
against the TACA lines. ACL resigns from the Canadian Conferences, trading as
an independent carrier in the North Europe trades for the first time in over
30 years.
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