OPDR Establishes Its Own Network in Morocco

After over 120 years of close business relations with Morocco the Short Sea Shipping and Logistics company Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhederei (OPDR) launched its first own Moroccan company named “OPDR Maroc Sarlau” in Casablanca. The new office will become fully operational as from 15th January 2014.

“Morocco is and has always been an important core market for OPDR and represents our gateway to Africa”, explains Till Ole Barrelet, Chief Executive Officer of the OPDR Group and Managing Director of OPDR Maroc. “As we already established our own OPDR network in Belgium, Portugal and Spain in 2013, it was a consequent step to build up our own network in Morocco as well. The new Moroccan office enables us to be even closer to our customers and their production areas now that will further enhance our customer service. We will be able to standardize our processes and will consequently achieve an even higher performance level.”

OPDR offers up to three regular sailings per week to and from Morocco. A weekly direct service connects the Northern European ports of Hamburg, Tilbury, Rotterdam and Antwerp with Casablanca and viceversa within the shortest transit time available in the market. A second OPDR service provides an additional direct link between Hamburg, Rotterdam Tilbury and Casablanca via the Canary Islands as well as between Casablanca and various ports of the Iberian Peninsula. Fast connections between Morocco and Portugal and the Scandinavian-Baltic region form also part of the OPDR service. 40’ Pallet-Wide High Cube and 40’ High Cube Reefer containers are available on all trades.

OPDR has been calling Moroccan ports, in particular Casablanca, for almost 120 years. Back then, OPDR called the ports of Tangier, Larrache, Rabat, Casablanca, Mazagan, Mogador and Safi. The first OPDR vessel named “Casablanca” was built in 1903 followed by several “Casablanca” named OPDR vessels of various types. Nowadays OPDR operates a fleet of seven owned vessels and additional chartered vessels.

OPDR, January 16, 2014