Encompasses our global intermodal operations to, from and within West Africa together with a UK liner agency business. The rationalisation of various names has meant that OTAL's branding is now more clearly defined. This has helped strengthen our prominence a West Africa shipping specialist not just from Europe, but from around the world. This division will oversee group vessel ownership, ship management, chartering and crewing services. These companies will merge with OT Africa Line to create a single, streamlined entity.
Competition remains fierce.
The trade suffered from over-tonnage, violent peaks and troughs and rates spiralled. Maersk buys CMBT to become the largest competitor on the trade. The object of this move reinforces the Group's position in the Europe-Africa trade with the important contribution that OTAL can make, particularly in the traffic flows from the UK, Germany and Benelux to the anglophone markets of Ghana and Nigeria. Jan 2000 OTAL moves port operations in the Netherlands from Rotterdam to Amsterdam Since the founding of the group there has been relatively little change in the management structure and the company's founders continue to be as active as they have always been. In fact, the group prides itself on the longevity and continuity of its management team.