John T. Essberger Bv, Dordrecht

The history of the privately owned Deutsche Afrika-Linien/John T. Essberger Group of Companies dates back to the year 1924 when the former Imperial Navy Officer, Commander John Theodor Essberger (1886-1959), established himself as a tanker shipowner in Hamburg/Germany. Today the company, which has meanwhile become highly diversified, is managed in the third generation by the Essberger/von Rantzau family. The company headquarters are based on Palmaille 45-49 in Hamburg-Altona overlooking the river Elbe. The ensemble of buildings, a classical 18th century palais accompanied by contemporary steel and glas architecture, reflects both historical and modern views.
Today the company consists of the shipping lines Deutsche Africa-Linien, the traditional liner services to Southern Africa, as well as the DAL service to East Africa and the Islands of the Indian Ocean, WAL West-Afrika Linien-Dienste serving the West African ports and the groupÕs tramp shipping activities pooled in TOL Transocean Liners. TOS Transocean Shipmanagement manages the companyÕs own fleet and vessels of third parties.