Antwerp-based shipping agent Boeckmans maintains this tradition of commercial success. Even in today’s massively consolidated shipping industry, Boeckmans remains independent and continues to thrive. The company won the prestigious Trends Gazelle Award for rapid growth during the period 2004-2005, an expansion driven largely by its increasingly strong reputation in the transport of conventional cargo, and bolstered by investment in its own shipping line.

 

Boeckmans was founded in the 1930s. Originally an expedition agent, the company emerged after the Second World War as a shipping agent. Majority shareholding is owned by the Durot family, who have steered the firm through the troughs and swells of the shipping industry since the 1970s. They are keen to maintain the firm’s status as an independent agent and to further develop their expertise and know-how in shipping and logistics.

 

The company’s headquarters overlook the river Scheldt in Antwerp, perfectly placed for their shipping and forwarding role. Europe’s second largest port after Rotterdam, Antwerp has a strong tradition in logistics thanks to its inland location which gives it excellent multi-modal connections to the heart of Europe’s economies. The city also has a well-established commercial reputation, one that is strong in all areas — be it vehicles, break-bulk, containers, dry bulk, cooled transport, chemicals or fresh fruit. In 2007, the port handled 182 million tonnes of freight with container cargo making up the lion’s share.

 

Boeckmans is recognised for its focus on conventional cargo (non-containerised cargo such as steel, pipes, paper and forestry products, palletized and other unitary cargo). This specialisation developed as a result of the consolidation of container lines in the 1980s and 1990s, a period which saw the creation of huge multinational companies (such as Maersk) that then expanded their activities into the shipping agent role. Independent shipping agents were faced with a stark choice — be swallowed up by the big container lines or find their niche. Boeckmans followed a two-pronged strategy, specialising in conventional cargo and in specific regions (the Mediterranean, Middle East, South America and South-East Asia).

 

A third, equally important priority has been the provision of a fully integrated service to its clients — both shipping lines and forwarders (and their customers). While Boeckmans’ prime service to shipping lines is commercial in nature (centred on finding cargo), it also offers an integrated suite of administrative and operational services. These include customs clearance, cargo handling, warehousing, distribution and control, trans-shipment, ship re-supply and more. Integrated computer systems enable efficient distribution and tracking of cargo through communication with local port custom authorities, ship owners and clients. Furthermore, market research technology and computer-aided traffic analysis systems allow for geographical area analyses, plus account profiles and statistics on imported and exported cargoes, by principal and by customer. As part of its integrated service, Boeckmans prides itself on offering an all-round, one-stop service that covers all ports in the Benelux.

 

In addition to its agency role, Boeckmans is also thriving as a shipping line. Its short sea service, Scaldic Med Line, owns three vessels and has two more on long leases. These currently operate the Mediterranean and North African routes. In line with Boeckmans’ chosen specialisation, Scaldic Med Line concentrates on conventional cargo. Since 2001, the company has seen strong growth on the back of these shipping line investments, culminating in that coveted Trends Gazelle Award.

 

As an organisation with several decades of experience in shipping and logistics, Boeckmans has successfully managed to exploit the challenges and opportunities of a changing industry. Its expertise in maritime transport continues to develop and deliver results, both for its customers and for the company itself. One of the many ways it does so is in the employment market. Boeckmans is a sought-after employer because of the ideal learning environment it provides for all those committed to the maritime transport business.