OREANDA-NEWS. Maersk Line, the world's leading ocean transportation company and a unit of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, announces today the formation of a regional, containerized shipping company - SeaLand - dedicated to the intra-Americas market. This new affiliate will have a structure similar to Maersk's other successful regional carriers including: intra-Asia carrier MCC Transport and intra-Europe carrier Seago Line. SeaLand will feature knowledgeable, local sales and support personnel positioned in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean, to meet the unique needs of customers throughout the region. This agile framework will provide greater flexibility and a higher-level of customer-focused service to these local markets. Maersk Line's existing Intra-Americas service network will be the foundation for SeaLand's ocean products.

This new, independent unit will officially commence operations on January 1, 2015. Maersk Line will begin the transition of their Intra-Americas business to SeaLand in a phased approach throughout 2014. The newly established team of approximately 240 highly-skilled personnel will begin their new roles by July 1, 2014. SeaLand will be led by Maersk Line veteran, Craig Mygatt, who will serve as CEO. The company will be headquartered in the United States with exact location to be determined. SeaLand will share specific Maersk Line operational services, such as finance, land-side operations, and HR.

“We heard from our customers that they value Maersk Line services but they required greater service stability and commitment. That's one of the key reasons why we're responding with an improved, restructured solution for the Intra-Americas,” commented, Craig Mygatt, CEO, SeaLand. “We look forward to developing strong, enduring customer relationships as the new SeaLand organization.”

“This reorganization is an investment in our global container business. It enhances and strengthens service in this important and growing trade region, as well as the future of our overall global service network,” said Vincent Clerc, chief trade & marketing officer, Maersk Line.

Robbert Van Trooijen, Chief Executive, Maersk Line Latin America and Caribbean said, “This new Intra-Americas commitment will meet the needs of Latin American customers that ask for local, customer specialists that are empowered to act quickly and respond to changes in the market. We have a long history in this region that will set the foundation for future growth.”