Humber maritime specialist Carlbom Shipping has been bought out by a global logistics provider.
The Stallingborough-headquartered ships' agency has been acquired by Pentagon Freight Services, in an undisclosed deal.
Established 125 years ago by John Carlbom, the fourth generation family business acted for the first vessel to enter Port of Immingham, and has found new opportunities in offshore wind in recent years.
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The latter has proved alluring to the privately-owned London-based company, which employs more than 1,100 people across 72 global locations.
It provides logistics solutions to the energy industries, and describes the deal as “one to further enhance its worldwide service provision and secure a new strategic location in Europe”.
Ashley Taylor, Pentagon chief executive, said: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Carlbom Shipping. It was clear from the start that there is a great deal of synergy between our companies and together we can combine to deliver an enhanced service to all our clients – from traditional ships agency, to logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage, and procurement. The Carlbom team and its expertise in ships agency and offshore wind are a highly valuable addition to the Pentagon Group and we look forward to building on Carlbom’s impressive heritage.”
Pentagon was launched in 1974, and operates from Aberdeen, Dartford, Glasgow, Newcastle and Great Yarmouth in the UK.
It said that by acquiring Carlbom, it reinforces its strength in vessel and cargo handling, adding an important facility at the “busy east coast of England Humber ports of Immingham, Grimsby and Hull”.
Forged through strong Scandinavian connections, chair Camilla Carlbom Flinn is the Swedish and Finnish honorary consul for the Humber, as well as a director of Humber Marine and Renewables.
She took the helm when her father Anthony passed away almost 15 years ago, navigating the business into the burgeoning offshore wind market as a mainstay, coal, entered terminal decline.
It was later held up as a key supply chain partner by Orsted - the world leader in the sector.
Mrs Carlbom Flinn, who stays on with the eight-strong team as director of ships’ agency, said: “Pentagon Freight is the perfect partner for Carlbom Shipping. It was very important to us to find a partner with a similar background – a family-run company that invests in people and shares the same vision for delivering outstanding service to clients locally and internationally.
“Pentagon’s strength and expertise in logistics from within the oil and gas sector means they can bring in-house knowledge to the offshore and renewables sector and combine it with our expertise in the maritime industry to provide a seamless service to our clients.”
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