Deutsche Afrika-Linien

Allgemeine Informationen

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.