Page 9 - Port of Baltimore Magazine January/February 2016

SHIPPING
Maersk Line to Acquire Hamburg Süd
Maersk Line has reached an agreement to buy Hamburg Süd, a German container shipping line, for an undisclosed amount.
Hamburg Süd is the world’s seventh-largest container shipping line and a major player in north- south trades. The company operates 130 container vessels with a container capacity of 625,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent unit). Hamburg Süd has 5,960 employees in more than 250 offices around the world.
“The acquisition of Hamburg Süd is in line with our growth strategy and will increase the volumes of both Maersk Line and APM Terminals,” said Søren Skou, head of Maersk Line and the Maersk Group.
The combined network is expected to help Maersk Line develop new products with more direct port calls and shorter transit times.
The acquisition is subject to a satisfactory due diligence, final agreement and regulatory approval in China, Korea, Australia, Brazil, the United States and the EU. Maersk Line expects the regulatory process to last until the end of 2017.
Until then, Hamburg Süd and Maersk Line will continue with business as usual. 􏰀
NEWSMAKERS
Baltimore’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office Gets New Director
By Kathy Bergren Smith
Casey Owen Durst, a 19-year veteran of public service, has taken over the helm as Director of Field Operations (DFO) at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Baltimore. She replaces Augustine Moore (see accompanying story).
“I look forward to continuing the strong working relationship
we have with the Maryland
Port Administration and the
other members of the Port of Baltimore’s Federal Agency Quality
Workgroup,” Durst said. She will be in charge of
operations in five states,
which encompass 23 ports of entry: southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and northern Virginia. Her territory includes Washington Dulles International Airport, where
she began her career as a U.S. Customs Service inspector.
The mission of CBP is to safeguard America’s borders, Durst said, adding that its work protects “the public from
Casey Owen Durst, is the new Director of Field Operations (DFO) at U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Baltimore.
dangerous people and materials while enhancing the nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.” 􏰀
To subscribe or renew, visit www.marylandports.com [7]