News Release

16th April 1999

Merger of Maritime Haulage and Port of Felixstowe Transport


In the interest of providing a better service to their shipping line customers, Maritime Haulage Ltd and Port of Felixstowe Transport (POFT) have joined forces. With effect from 1st January 1999 , the newly-merged company is trading as Maritime Haulage Ltd. However, both companies will retain their individual identities – including truck liveries – for the foreseeable future.

Maritime Haulage was originally formed in 1990 by Maritime Transport Services Limited (MTSL) which also owned the Kent container terminal Thamesport. In February 1998, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), the world’s largest independent port operator and already the owner of the Port of Felixstowe, purchased MTSL and thus brought Maritime Haulage and POFT into common ownership.

The ‘new’ Maritime Haulage has a fleet of 136 owned vehicles and now operates from six locations: Thamesport, Felixstowe, Manchester, Southampton, Rainham (London) and Leeds. Approximately 100 additional vehicles work on subcontract to Maritime Haulage

Both companies are gaining substantially from the amalgamation.

Being the smaller company, POFT – has only 24 vehicles compared to Maritime Haulage’s 122 – will benefit in terms of scale, particularly in relation to purchasing power and depot access. Since its formation, Maritime Haulage has built up a nationwide six-depot operation with its vehicles being a common sight in most UK container ports; Thamesport currently generates just 25% of the company’s annual business.

POFT, being located in the UK’s largest container port, has focused much more on its home port business and had only one other depot, in Manchester. This has now been closed in favour of the larger Maritime Haulage facility.

However, Maritime Haulage has also realised a number of benefits from the amalgamation. For example, it will relocate its East Anglian base from Ipswich to a 5 -acre site within the Port of Felixstowe gates where it benefits from the Port’s security system including CCT cameras.

The Maritime Haulage fleet is made up of Iveco Ford, Scania and Volvo 6 x 2 tractor units, all plated up to 41 tonnes and able to operate to 44 tonnes for rail associated movements.

An IT system developed in-house through a designated DP department at Thamesport and Felixstowe has the capability to formulate load planning and electronic data interchange. It is also linked to several of the company’s major customers to enable seamless transmission of documentation.

Maritime Haulage Ltd (MHL) is a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings Group (HPH), the world’s largest independent port operator and the owner of the Port of Felixstowe, Harwich International Port and Thamesport in the UK.

MHL has a fleet of 136 owned vehicles and operates from six locations: Thamesport, Felixstowe, Manchester, Southampton, Rainham (London) and Leeds. Approximately 100 additional vehicles work on subcontract to MHL.

(END)

4/16/99