Damco

Damco is a global provider of supply chain management and freight forwarding services. It is wholly owned by the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group.

It works with major ocean carriers and airlines, local landside service providers such as trucking and customs brokers, and a range of global and local service providers. It also offers warehousing, customs clearance and cargo insurance.

Revenues for 2011 were US$2.8bn.

History

Damco Sea & Air was established under the name Damco Maritime in 1988, following the acquisition by Royal Nedlloyd, at that time the parent company of the Van Gend & Loos Group. Both concerns had a variety of freight forwarding companies trading under different brand names with a number of specialty services.

Additional businesses were added to the Group as Royal Nedlloyd widened its net within Europe. In 1997 Damco Maritime became part of the merged International sea freight interests of P&O Nedlloyd, wherein they acted as a neutral, stand alone and independent operating division. Since then the company has redefined its product offering, placing greater emphasis on the development of Airfreight.

In 2000 the company changed its name to Damco Sea & Air to reflect this initiative.Then following the take-over by AP Moller-Maersk of P&O Nedlloyd in August 2005, Damco formed part of the AP Moller-Maersk Group of companies.

Then in July 2007 Damco Sea & Air and Maersk Logistics announced that it was to integrate the Dutch freight forwarding company Damco Sea & Air with Maersk Logistics' forwarding activities. The combined business was to trade under the name of 'Damco'.

Since 2001 besides supply chain management services, Maersk Logistics had been providing freight forwarding services under the name of 'DSL Star Express'. Together with Maersk Logistics' air freight and land-based services, DSL Star Express was also renamed 'Damco' on July 1, 2007.