Acquisition adds muscle for Hull Blyth

The recently combined operation of British-owned Hull Blyth with SA-based Mainport Africa Shipping and Kestrel Maritime will see all three gaining added muscle from the amalgamation, according to Hull Blyth’s Leigh Walker, who will be country manager for the triumvirate. Accra-based ships agency specialists in West Africa for over 160 years, Hull Blyth has add strength to its southern African identity with the acquisition of the two SA operations. “We have always wanted a greater presence in the region,” Walker said. “Mainport’s long-standing reputation throughout southern Africa, its customer base, and ships agency port coverage of Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha Bay, helps to achieve this. “You can then add sister company Kestrel Maritime’s expertise in acting as cargo brokers specialising in project breakbulk, bulk, abnormal and heavy lift cargoes.” This new arrangement will improve the range of services that Hull Blyth is able to offer its already diverse range of principals, group chairman James Baldwin told FTW from his London office. “We are keen to capitalise on Mainport’s good name in the region to establish a further presence in neighbouring countries,” he added. Mainport and Kestrel’s existing management and brand names will be retained within the wider Hull Blyth group, and the former directors of the two companies – Captain Brian Hawkins and Fiona Minogue-Calitz – will hold the same positions in the new group. INSERT Accra-based Hull Blyth has added strength to its southern African identity with the acquisition of the two SA operations.