APL Creates Own Organisation in Lithuania - Move to establish own office signals strength of Baltic region

Global container transportation leader APL has opened its own organisation in Lithuania. The new company, APL Agencies UAB, has its head office in Klaipeda, Lithuania’s primary port.

APL has been active in Lithuania since 2001 and has worked closely with its local agency JSC Kontransa to build up a significant presence in the Lithuanian market. The formation of APL Lithuania is being effected with the full cooperation of Kontransa and a number of staff are transferring from the agency to APL, including Diana Utkeviciute, who headed APL’s agency and will now become Country Manager of APL Lithuania.

David Appleton, APL President for the Europe region commented: “Lithuania, in common with other Baltic states, has been one of Europe’s economic success stories in recent years. A flourishing local economy, bolstered by recent membership of the European Union provides a backdrop that gives us great confidence in the future here.”

APL serves Lithuania by connecting Klaipeda with the line’s global shipping network over the German ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven. APL operates a joint service in association with German-based short-sea specialist Team Lines giving customers access to additional capacity between Hamburg, Bremerhaven and the Baltic ports.

“With the support of our agency colleagues APL is successfully developing its own organisational network across this Northeast Europe region,” Mr Appleton added. “Our own offices enable us to offer customers enhanced service opportunities and communications possibilities, especially online booking, documentation and customer service tools, that reduce cost and improve efficiency.”