OT Africa Line was a specialist shipping line exclusively serving routes between Europe and West Africa.[1] OTAL work exclusively in the transportation (container shipping fleet) industry, operating a line of container and RoRo vessels. It ceased trading in June 2011 when the brand was assimilated under the Delmas banner. OTAL, like Delmas, was a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group,[2] the third largest shipping company in the world.

OT Africa Line
Company typeLimited
IndustryTransport, shipping, cargo
Founded1975
HeadquartersBirmingham, UK
ProductsShipping, cargo, freight distribution
Revenue93 million EUR (2007)
Number of employees
30+
Websitehttp://www.otal.com

History

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RoRo Vessel Kagoro

OT Africa Line was established in 1975 as a pioneering, roll-on roll-off congestion beating transport system to Nigeria. Nigeria went through a massive construction boom with the discovery of oil in the mid-1970s[3] and the need to provide construction materials and equipment resulted in port congestion. Roll-on roll-off ships can load and discharge quickly, taking up a minimum of quay space and overcoming congestion difficulties.

In 1999 OTAL was taken over by Bolloré, a French investment and industrial holding group.[4]

In 2006 CMA CGM purchases OT Africa Line, at the same time acquiring Delmas, Setramar and a 50% stake in SudCargos to become the third largest shipping company in the world.

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References

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  1. ^ "OTAL Home Page". otal.com. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  2. ^ "CMA CGM Subsidiaries Page". Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  3. ^ "Financial Times Country Information". Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  4. ^ "Marinelink.com". Retrieved 2008-12-03.