Mosolf port division to buy Transport Overseas Group

Transport Overseas Group is a logistics service provider based in Bremen that provides ro-ro, breakbulk and project cargo services, as well as being an independent ship broker. The buyout includes its operations in Belgium, Poland, Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Christian Weber, managing director of Transport Overseas Group, will join the management team at MPLS alongside Steffen Klatte, its managing director.

MPLS was set up and the beginning of 2024 by parent company Mosolf to better focus on its finished vehicle activity at the German ports of Cuxhaven and Wilhelmshaven, as well as at the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. Mosolf opened its seaport terminal at Wilhelmshaven in north-western Germany in 2020 to handle vehicles and other rolling cargo. That focus was in response to growing import volumes and the resulting demand for more terminal capacity from new and established vehicle makers. MPLS also has an office in Shanghai.

The division said that the acquisition of Transport Overseas Group will help it better manage the increasing demand for terminal capacity, lending additional resources and infrastructure to increase efficiency and avoid potential bottlenecks.

“The portfolios of our companies match perfectly,” said Tim Oltmann, CEO of Transport Overseas Group. “With 800 own vehicle transporters, over 60 special trucks for high and heavy, and ro-ro terminals, the Mosolf Group brings powerful assets to the table, while the Transport Overseas Group has direct access to shipping companies, OEMs and other customers from the breakbulk, project cargo and ro-ro segment for global shipments.”

Dr Jörg Mosolf, chairman of the management board at Mosolf, said the acquisition is another important milestone: “We are delighted that we will be taking over the Transport Overseas Group, with its special industry expertise, and that we will be able to offer our customers complete supply chain solutions from a single source on a sustainable and, above all, long-term basis.”

Dr Mosolf said the service would be unique in Northern Europe and provide strategic and logistical options for the OEM sector. The company said it will now be able to offer specialised ro-ro and breakbulk services supported by partnerships with selected ocean carriers and dedicated vessel space.

“With the integration of the TO Group, MPLS will gain access to an extended global network, capable of safely and efficiently transporting a wide range of goods, including cars, commercial vehicles, construction materials, machinery and containers,” said a spokesperson for MPLS.

MPLS will leverage other strategic locations, including Belgium, Poland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to further strengthen its global presence and logistical capabilities. The company said the location in Middle East will serve as a crucial hub for connections between Europe, Asia and Africa, while Poland and Belgium will bolster MPLS’ presence in the European markets, providing greater flexibility and efficiency for international transports. It added that customers will also benefit from enhanced project logistics solutions covering both commercial and sensitive goods.

Additionally, MPLS will benefit from Transport Overseas Shipping Iberia, the official representative of the Europe Caribbean Line (ECL) in Spain, which offers regular connections to the Caribbean.