If the number of Ambyth vans on the roads of Guam and Saipan seem to be proliferating it’s because the Ambyth group of companies have scooped up a number of prize agencies and the opportunity to jump start significant shipping business throughout Micronesia and Asia.

Ambyth’s Shipping Agency Division has been appointed the Guam and Saipan agents for Maresk Sealand effective Oct. 1.

Andrew Miller ? at Ambyth said “Maersk Sealand is one of the largest liner shipping companies in the world serving customers all over the globe. With a fleet numbering more than 300 container vessels and one million containers Maersk Sealand offers reliable and comprehensive worldwide coverage. Maersk Sealand’s well-established infrastructure of feeder vessels trucks and dedicated trains allows Maersk Sealand to offer a unique concept of door-to-door services.”

Maersk Sealand is a division of the A.P. Moller — Maersk Group which employs more than 60 000 employees group wide. This follows three other major acquisitions:

• The award of the TNT Express Worldwide agency for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands effective July 1 (TNT provides express logistics and postal services);

• The award of the Lynden International agency for Guam the Northern Mariana Islands Palau the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands effective July 1 (Lynden is a U.S.-based freight forwarder); and

• The award of the Panalpina agency for Guam the Northern Mariana Islands Palau the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands effective June 15 (Panalpina is a Swiss-based freight forwarder and logistics provider).

Andrew J.(?) Miller ? at Ambyth told the Journal that although the agencies were in the same business “All of them have their niches in the market.”

Miller said each had an area of specialty. “TNT is a world-leading provider of … express delivery services focusing on business-to-business customers; Panalpina is one of the world’s leading providers of forwarding and logistics services — specializing in inter-continental air freight and ocean freight shipments and associated supply chain management solutions; Lynden International — a division of Lynden Air Freight is a full service domestic and international freight forwarder which provides import and export services with U.S.-based companies’ customers.”

He said the acquisition was a strategic move for the company which envisioned growth.

“Ambyth Logistics agency appointments enhance its ability to service specialized customer requirements whilst strengthening its regional market position to address the anticipated increased demand for integrated logistics support and solutions.”

Nevertheless Miller said despite a favorable outlook the shipping and freight forwarding markets are facing challenges. “Unfortunately both are sensitized to global markets e.g. volatile fuel costs changes in U.S. domestic trade policies and demand and the rising costs of vessel charter tonnage. Not to mention the continued decline of garment exports out of Saipan all contributing to increasing costs of doing business.”

Independent Freight Services previously held the same agencies on Guam and Saipan. That company is reportedly for sale. A number of companies were interested in securing the agencies when they were offered for bid.

Miller said “Ambyth’s recent agency appointments of TNT Panalpina and Lynden International were based solely on Ambyth’s ability to perform and strategically represent respective companies.”

Ambyth has also been appointed Avon handling and distribution agent on Guam and Saipan effective July 1. Other Ambyth contracts include operation of vessels assigned to the Military Pre-Positioning Squadron Three; the company is the contracted husbanding agent for all USS and USNS vessels calling at Saipan the Northern Mariana Islands and Palau.

Ambyth is the liner agent on Guam Saipan and Rota for Seabridge Inc. which operates weekly shipping services between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and represents Kambara Kisen Co. Ltd. which calls weekly on Guam from major ports in Asia. The company is also the outsourced warehouse and distribution center operator for LVMH Fashion Group Micronesia on Guam and Saipan and provides warehousing services for clients including Foremost Foods and Pacific Distribution Center.

The company has air and ocean freight forwarding relationships in Micronesia with a number of major carriers; and its trucking clients include all petroleum and shipping companies in the region. Seafix Inc. is the group’s ship repair and power generation division.

The company began operations in 1974 on Guam in 1987 on Saipan and opened a branch office in Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2004. MBJ