The history of Blue Water Shipping
Blue Water was founded by Kurt Skov in 1972 in Esbjerg, Denmark
See the milestones in our history
Our history begins in 1972 where the first Blue Water office opened in Esbjerg. With the aim of constantly improving the service for our clients, the company has grown stronger in its 50 years within the transport and logistics industry. Today, the company is a global player in the transport market.
2023
Blue Water continues to grow and strengthen its global position. The company reaches more than 80 worldwide offices and 2,500 employees. During the year, Blue Water opens several offices in China, Papua New Guinea, Iraq, Chile and Suriname – having several more office openings in the pipeline. Additionally, the company opens major warehouse facilities around the world, supporting local business opportunities and flexibility.
Blue Water maintains to develop worldwide offerings within the Renewables sector. For many years, Vestas and Blue Water have worked closely together on global wind projects, and in 2023, the two companies sign a 5-year agreement on handling wind components at the Blue Water Terminals Esbjerg and the Blue Water BREB Terminals in Cuxhaven, Germany.
During the spring, Blue Water acquires full ownership of the former Danwind Blue Water. With full ownership, Blue Water strengthens its position further within wind turbine installation and service to the wind industry.
In recent years, Blue Water has been expanding its activities in the Caribbean region and now announces a large three-year contract with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited. Besides Georgetown Guyana, Blue Water already holds several offices in the Caribbean, including Suriname and Trinidad.
With a continued belief of being an active player in the local communities which the company is a part of, Blue Water partners with Guyana Football Federation for a new stadium in Guyana. The project will focus on expanding the ways the stadium serves the Guyana national football teams as well as the wider community. The goal is for the venue to be accessible to people from all backgrounds and will be integrated with Guyana’s art and cultural life.
The first-ever Blue Water Games are held with more than 1,500 employees participating from over 30 countries, creating a strong team spirit. In the future, the Blue Water Games will be organised annually for all the company's employees - spread across all offices worldwide. A key element will be a joint competition where the winning team gets the right to donate DKK 250,000 to a good cause of their choosing. This year, Blue Water Türkiye won and decided to donate to the Hope Foundation for Children with Cancer.
Blue Water presents a new chairman of the Blue Water Group. The experienced leader Jørgen Wisborg is entrusted the role of sustaining and strengthening Blue Water’s strategic development while also safeguarding the Blue Water culture and values. Jørgen Wisborg joins the operational board as member, and after a handover process, he takes over the chairman position from founder Kurt Skov, who continues as board member.
At the internationally recognised industry event, the Heavy Lift Awards in London, Blue Water is nominated for several awards. Blue Water’s founder Kurt Skov receives the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to an individual who has made a long-lasting impact on the specialised transport and project forwarding industry.
Another important milestone is achieved in July. Blue Water's first trainee – Claus Bæk – celebrates his 50th anniversary. Claus Bæk’s dedication to the company is considered a testament to the unique DNA which Blue Water has built through five decades, and the first trainee is celebrated with a big reception at headquarters.
2022
Blue Water presents its annual result for 2021 – the third biggest profit ever. We expand our Top Management with a COO for Energy, Ports & Projects. Blue Water’s Top Management now consists of CEO Søren Nørgaard Thomsen, COO Dan Nissen, COO Thomas Bek and CFO Flemming Busch.
To further strengthen our global position, we open two additional offices in the Middle East: Iraq and Saudi Arabia. This gives us a significantly better position to provide local service in the region – also within wind, solar energy and green hydrogen.
With the opening of a new office in Darwin Blue Water is now widely represented at five locations in Australia and an additional big contract to the list of current solar and wind projects.
In recent years, Blue Water has expanded its activities in Guyana and the Caribbean region and now announces its acquisition of Falcon Logistics, Guyana holding a strong position in the Caribbean. With the acquisition we increase our service palette to include shore base, warehousing, local logistics and delivery services.
Blue Water contributes indirectly to this year’s Tour de France. Grand Départ Copenhagen Denmark (GDCD), a company set up to handle and plan the Danish tour start, chooses Blue Water to arrange logistics and air transports out of Denmark after the tour start.
The Energy & Projects activities continue to grow - especially in the Asia-Pacific region. We sign a contract with BW Offshore (BWO) covering logistics and freight forwarding services, including break-bulk and heavy lift transportation.
To maintain market presence and growth we open two offices in Turkey – Istanbul and Izmir – in the late summer. Both locations offer a wide range of transport and logistics solutions.
Blue Water opens an office in Gdansk, Poland, due to the country’s increasing frozen food production and export. The purpose is to strengthen our position and develop and expand our presence towards new suppliers, customers and products – as well as to accommodate existing customers’ needs.
Blue Water’s Founder Kurt Skov steps down as Chairman of the Blue Water Foundation Board owning 75% of the shares in Blue Water. Anne Skov is appointed new Chairman.
Blue Water celebrates its 50th jubilee. On the actual day 1 September, the citizens of Esbjerg are invited to take part in the celebration which includes: entertainment for kids in the morning, a reception for friends of the house in the afternoon followed by a football match - EfB All Stars playing the Danish Old Boys National Team – and a concert in the evening. On the occasion of the jubilee, a donation of DKK 250,000 is given to Lykkeliga.
2021
On 1 January, Blue Water acquires the thermo activities of J. Lauritzen’s Eftf. which mainly include road transport and rail solutions for food products between Italy, Benelux and Scandinavia.
Blue Water Academy is inaugurated, and the first team to benefit from the academy’s magnificent facilities are our trainees. You will find the academy on the fifth floor of Blue Water’s headquarters in Esbjerg.
For several years, we have been active with port-related services in Thyboron on the west coast of Jutland. We now open an office here - in cooperation with local partner Kynde & Toft who has an extensive business and roots in this region.
We open an office in Rodby in connection with the Fehmarn Belt project. The tunnel installation between Denmark and Germany is now in progress, and we enter into a contract with Fehmarn Belt Contractors (FBC) for delivery of a variety of services.
We strengthen our reefer activities in the North Atlantic region with the acquisition of Newfoundland-based Freightway International. The acquisition enables expansion of our range of services to the North Atlantic and Canadian markets.
Blue Water enters into a strategic partnership with our long-time client Holland America Group (HAG) – one of the top players in the Cruise industry. The agreement covers delivery of a variety of services to the cruise companies under HAG and their 36 cruise ships.
Blue Water and the Construction division of Danwind Group enter into a joint venture agreement for establishing a new entity Danwind Blue Water that will offer turnkey services for onshore and offshore wind turbine installation. Danwind Blue Water is expected to be fully operational by the end of Q1, 2022.
2020
With the delivery of the last components to Cattle Hill Wind Farm – located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania – Blue Water has been involved in eight wind farms in Australia.
Blue Water opens an office in Milan, Italy to support and develop the business of providing logistical solutions to Italian clients, Initially with focus on serving clients in the Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Renewables and infrastructure sectors.
Blue Water opens two offices in the Caribbean - Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago – to increase the service to the Oil & Energy sector in the Caribbean and the north-eastern region of South America.
The corona outbreak in March affects Blue Water throughout the entire year. In connection with the lockdown of countries, our employees make extraordinary efforts to solve the customers’ transport needs - though complicated by restrictions etc. A major par of our staff is sent home for a longer period to work from their home office.
Blue Water receives a recognition from TCO for our successful cost saving initiative on an ongoing project. The initiatives saves 2.5 to 3 million USD on procurement of bunker fuel for the fleet of 17 MCVs.
Due to COVID-19, Blue Water launches an air bridge between Europe and China in close collaboration with SAS Cargo and our long-time agent in China, Cargo Services Group. The purpose is to fulfil the demands from the European trade and industry for air freight capacity between Europe and China.
Deloitte selects a number of companies – including Blue Water – as candidates for the international prize ”Best Managed Companies” awarded to the ten best managed companies in Denmark. Subsequently, an external jury selects the ten prize winners - one of which is Blue Water.
In September, we experience an averted cyberattack when Blue Water – jointly with external experts – manages to prevent the attack. For a period, however, the incident affects the usual dataflow and integration with some of our clients and business partners.
In the autumn, our competences within Port Operation and Air Freight are recognised by the industry in the form of two significant awards presented at the International Heavy Lift Awards 2020: the Air Freight Solution of the Year award, presented in the project cargo category, and the Port Terminal Operator of the Year award.
In October, delivery of the final module at the purpose-built cargo transportation site in Prorva, Kazakhstan marks the last transportation milestone for Blue Water and our four consortium partners under the TCO (Tengizchevroil) FGP-WPMP contracts (Future Growth Project-Wellhead Pressure Management Project) – our biggest project so far.
Despite COVID-19 restrictions and challenges, Blue Water delivers the best result ever – a record profit of 25.8m EUR.
2019
On 1 March, Blue Water Shipping España marks the office’s 25th anniversary with a celebration in which the Barcelona and Valencia staff, the chairwoman of Port of Barcelona and representatives from the head office in Esbjerg participate.
Two of Blue Water’s project staff are recognised by TCO for their contribution to the execution of the TCO Future Growth Project. For this project, Blue Water is leading four consortiums supplying a total of 75 MCVs, tugs, barges and utility vessels for the transportation of modules through the Russian inland waterways and intra-Caspian Sea to a new offloading facility in Prorva, Kazakhstan.
Blue Water lands new wind projects. Four projects, consisting of 183 wind turbines to be shipped out of Esbjerg during the next one and a half years to three wind farms in the North Sea and one on the US east coast.
Blue Water’s founde, Kurt Skov takes the next step towards the generational handover of the company and transfers a large shareholding to his daughter Anne Skov. In 2007, Kurt Skov took the first step by establishing a commercial foundation, the Blue Water Foundation, with the aim of securing the continued existence and development of Blue Water.
Blue Water’s strong presence in the Caspian region is further strengthened with a new office in Atyrau in Kazakhstan. Blue Water is already represented in this region with offices in Aktau, Kazakhstan – Tbilisi, Georgia – Baku, Azerbaijan.
With a project involving transport of highly sophisticated heavy equipment from the US and Turkey to Afghanistan, Blue Water helps to ensure the deployment of the first new gas turbine in over 40 years in Afghanistan. The job involves the biggest air charter in the company’s history.
HLPFI (Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International) - leading publication reporting on the Heavy Lift, Break-bulk and Project Cargo sector – has instituted the Heavy Lift Awards to recognise excellence in complex logistics, transport and engineering projects worldwide. Blue Water is announced winner of the category Project Logistics Provider of the Year.
Blue Water’s Agency team in Esbjerg is appointed agents for heavy lift vessel “Rolldock Storm” arriving at Esbjerg with the port’s new mobile crane. Weighing 800 tons and measuring 50 metres vertically, this is the world’s biggest mobile port crane.
2018
In February, Soren N. Thomsen succeeded Kurt Skov as new CEO of Blue Water Shipping. Soren has a long career within the shipping industry in the Maersk organisation. For the past seven years, Soren has performed the function of Managing Director of the shipping line Esvagt in Esbjerg.
Blue Water concentrates a series of activities at a 116,000-sqm multi-terminal in the Esbjerg East Port where we will handle both general cargo and project cargo.
We act as port agent and supplier of a number of services in connection with the transport of foundations to Kriegers Flak Offshore Wind Farm in the Baltic Sea.
With a new cooperation partner – Ekol Logistics – Blue Water aims at increased intermodal and environmentally friendly transport between Denmark and Turkey in the future.
Blue Water signs logistics contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces. The contract runs for seven years and has a value of NOK 315 million.
In July/August, the Port of Esbjerg plays host to the famous Tall Ships Races. Blue Water seizes the opportunity to put up a marquee at our parking area and invites clients and business relations to a barbecue.
We win the contract for logistics to the largest wind farm (149 turbines) “Stockyard Hill” in the southern hemisphere. Our scope of the project includes port handling in China and Australia, chartering of 17 full vessels and heavy haulage from the port of Geelong to project site.
Norwegian shipping line Egil Ulvan Rederi AS opens a new regular freight service between Denmark and Norway with Blue Water as their Danish sales agent.
In July/August, Blue Water acts as logistics partner for the Sailing World Championships. Our responsibilities include transport, logistics, handling and storage of equipment – from small parcels to full containers of equipment.
On 1 October, we take over GFS’ (Greenland Facility Services) facilities and removal firm in Nuuk, Qaqortoq Aasiaat and Ilulissat in Greenland as well as their trawler port calls and cleaning services at the three last-mentioned locations.
We welcome new colleagues at the head of our General Cargo Division. Three new directors join the team: Carsten Nitz/Road, Martin Brandstrup/Sales and Palle Kamstrup/Sea & Air.
As worldwide experts in complex transport, our Houston office executes multiple RTG and STS transport contracts. Part of the contracts covers the transport of eight RTGs on one barge. This specific job includes passage of the Panama Canal requiring careful preparation: engineering work, route planning etc.
Blue Water is active on the Nord stream 2 project – pipeline that will transport natural gas from some of the world’s largest reserves in Russia to Europe. We handle transshipment of pipes – approx. 500 shipments – from the coating ports in Finland and Germany to the two marshalling yards in Hanko, Finland and Karlshamn, Sweden, for which we are responsible for the operation.
We are rolling out Safety Awareness for projects as well as for our many locations. It is Blue Water’s long-term objective to achieve a “Be World Safe” culture.
2017
We expand our Reefer traffics to Southern Europe and takes over the other half of the terminal in Padborg, Denmark from long-time partner Bring Frigo.
We are involved in numerous wind energy projects worldwide, among others:
- Transport of the world’s longest wind turbine blades from Esbjerg to Bremerhaven. Discharging is performed by our joint venture Blue WaterBREB.
- Full transport of 70 wind turbines for the White Rock Wind Far in New South Wales, Australia, shipped from China to Newcastle, Australia followed by a 550-km haulage to the project site.
- Onshore logistics at the wind turbine preassembly site of the Tahkoluoto Offshore Wind farm project in Finland.
- Transport and logistics services to the Higashi Yurihara Wind Farm on the Japanese main island of Honshu.
- Provision of transport and logistics to the first onshore wind farm in Indonesia in close cooperation between the offices in Esbjerg/Denmark, China and Singapore.
A consortium led by Blue Water is awarded an additional contract by TCO – for international transport of modular cargo from the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, via the Russian Inland Waterway System, to Prorva in Kazakhstan. Subsequently, this consortium is entrusted to supply six tugs to assist barges and vessels at Prorva, Kazakhstan.
The biggest cruise ship ever “Norwegian Getaway”, of Norwegian Cruise Lines, calls at Copenhagen. “Norwegian Getaway” does 18 cruises in the Baltic Sea this year with Copenhagen as point of departure and with Blue Water as agents.
Blue Water’s Aid & Relief team provides transport and logistics services to aid projects worldwide, including assistance to aid organisations with providing aid and relief to thousands of hurricane victims in the Caribbean region.
2016
A consortium, led by Blue Water, is awarded a gigantic contract, by the joint venture Tengizchevrol (TCO), for construction of 15 specially designed vessels for an oil project in Kazakhstan. Later in the year, we win another two contracts for TCO.
We establish a joint venture with BREB (Bremer Rederei E & B GmbH) in Cuxhaven, Germany which gives us a hub in Cuxhaven – a terminal for logistics handling within the oil/gas segment.
The reefer activities are booming and we also see a considerable growth in air freight from Asia. Furthermore, we have supplied logistics services to the first offshore wind farm in the US “Block Island".
2015
Two-year contract signed with the Danish Armed Forces for transport to/from the North Atlantic. Contract value DKK 60 m.
We invest DKK 120 m in a new cargo terminal (12,300 m2) and office (1,800 m2) in Taulov (Fredericia municipality, Denmark).
Our Singapore team successfully tows jack-up rig from Brazil to a shipyard in Indonesia, and Blue Water Brest (France) assists Sabella SAS with the installation of their tidal turbine on the seabed off Brittany.
Blue Water takes over Als Logistics in Sonderborg, Denmark, opens an office in Portugal and acquires Norwegian Partner Solution.
Wind projects generate great activity, e.g. transport of turbines/components etc. to wind farms off the Philippines, Holland and UK.
2014
Kurt Skov receives the Silver Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog - and is received in audience by the Queen of Denmark.
In January, Kurt Skov receives the honorary award from Esbjerg Business Development Centre at the annual New Year's reception.
Blue Water Esbjerg achieves recertification in quality and environment (9001/14001) as well as a new certification in health & security (OHSAS 18001).
Blue Water handles logistics and transport of the world's largest wind turbine manufactured by Vestas.
Kurt Skov receives the great honour of being awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog and is received in audience by the Queen of Denmark in order to give expression for his gratitude.
As of 1 September, Blue Water acquires Lovén Spedition in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Blue Water takes over SB Fish - which activities and staff are transferred into our office and terminal in Padborg.
Blue Water Aberdeen, Marseille, Nantes, Brest and Houston obtain certifications according to ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001 (Health & Safety).
2013
In January, Blue Water opens an office in Sydney, Australia to primarily focus on import and export to and from Scandinavia.
Yet another office is opened in January. This time in Frederikshavn, Denmark mainly to concentrate on port agency, stevedoring and other port-related activities.
Lamprell Energy awards the transport of a second jack-up rig to Blue Water. The rig will be moved from Lamprell's Hamriyah Yard in Dubai to Russia.
Blue Water signs its largest contract ever with Keppel FELS covering heavy-lift transportation of five semi-submersible rigs. On 1 March, we open an office in Marseille, France - the gateway to North Africa. The aim is to increase our effort and involvement in the French market for energy and industrial projects.
Blue Water becomes involved in a landmark wind project, the Gwynt Y Mor, offshore wind farm in Great Britain.
Wikeström & Krogius (W&K) - Finland's largest privately owned freight forwarding company - is taken over by Blue Water as from 1 September.
Blue Water opens its second office in Sweden - in Stockholm - as a natural development of our activities in Scandinavia. ACi Transport & Spedition in Malmö, Sweden, is taken over by Blue Water.
2012
800 employees celebrated Blue Water's 40th jubilee.
With a clearance of just a few centimetres, Blue Water was the first company in history to transport cargo with a width of 17.35 m on the Volga-Don river system. The record-breaking transport to the Caspian Sea was the shipment of a specially designed jack-up rig.
1 August was the day when Blue Water Shipping passed 1,000 in number of staff - a milestone in Blue Water Shipping's history. In the mid-eighties, we passed number 100, in 2003 the number was 500 and now we have passed 1,000.
On Saturday 1 September, Blue Water Shipping celebrated its 40th anniversary with a grand party in Esbjerg, Denmark - the birthplace of the company. On the same day, the founder and Managing Director, Kurt Skov, also celebrated his 40th anniversary. 800 of the company's 1,000 employees attended the party. As part of the celebrations, a Blue Water song "The Spirit of Blue Water" was recorded by the employees.
In December, Kurt Skov, Blue Water Shipping's Founder and Managing Director, stepped down and entrusted the chief executive position to Kim Hedegaard Sorensen.
2011
The new year comes off to a festive start with a topping-out ceremony at the future headquarters on Trafikhavnskaj 9.
In Iceland, we establish an office in the country's capital of Reykjavik.
Over the year, Blue Water is involved in several large projects, marking new landmarks and cementing our position as a leading provider of project transports. Several offices are involved in the transport of an FPSO from Singapore to Brazil, we deliver wind turbines to Australia for the first time, and we transport a drilling rig from Dubai into the Caspian Sea.
As the year comes to its conclusion, Blue Water can look back on a very exciting year and record-breaking profits for the Blue Water Group.
2010
The spring of 2010 sees a continious increase in activities, and the many adjustments from 2009 contribute to a positive year end result.
Large initiatives during this year include a tow-year contract with the Danish Defence for transport between Denmark and North America.
Based in Esbjerg, Blue Water Port Services are established with the aim to service Siemens Wind Power from all Danish ports.
In Shanghai and Rio de Janeiro, new offices are opened to handle projects within oil, gas and wind energy.
2009
Offices involved in niche activities such as oil, gas, wind energy, project cargo and food products are developing favourably.
In Malaysia, a new office is opened in Port Klang - an investment for the office in Singapore, which already has many assignments in Malaysia and now has locals on the spot to develop the business.
A subdivision is opened on the island of Romo, close to Esbjerg.
2008
At the beginning of the year, we are given the opportunity of taking over Unifeeder's freight forwarding activities, which includes departments in Aarhus, Copenhagen and Oslo. Furthermore, an office is set up in Vantaa (Helsinki), giving Blue Water full representation by own offices in all of Scandinavia.
A service centre for Tubular Service and a pipe yard for Dong E&P Offshore Base are established in the port of Esbjerg, and shipment of wind turbines continues to be a growing business.
Late in the year, Blue Water opens an office in Doha, Qatar.
2007
Kurt Skov on stage the night he announced the Blue Water Foundation.
Blue Water opens two new offices - in Bremen, Germany and Gothenburg, Sweden. With activities increasing in Greenland, a third office is opened in Ilulissat.
The most important event of the year - for Blue Water - takes place on 21 April in Esbjerg. Kurt Skov transfers 75 per cent of the company shares to a commercial foundation "The Blue Water Foundation" to secure Blue Water's future, its identity, independence and growth.
In the autumn, Blue Water enters into various contracts, e.g. transport of an FSO (floating storage offloading unit) from Singapore to Baku, Azerbaijan.
2006
Blue Water is awarded warehouse and logistics activities for cruise line Holland America Line in Florida and opens an office in Fort Lauderdale.
European road traffic continues to expand.
Blue Water Projects is established in Barcelona, as wind turbine activities get busier than ever.
2005
Blue Water and Smyril Line jointly establish the freight company, Smyril Blue Water, to handle the freight activity based on 120 trailers in operation between Denmark, the Faroes and Iceland.
Blue Water's own Web Booking System Compass is widely recognised by clients in Denmark and the North Atlantic region.
As the year comes to an end, Blue Water is awarded the offshore base contract by the Danish oil company, Denerco Oil, in connection with a drilling operation in the German sector of the North Sea.
2004
The building activities in Blue Water are booming.
In December, the final audit is completed with the achievement of ISO-certification - covering both Blue Water Shipping A/S and Blue Water International A/S.
2003
Blue Water opens in Houston, USA due to increased activities in the oil & gas industry.
A special Projects Department is established in Esbjerg, to take care of worldwide transport of especially heavy and over dimensioned project cargo.
A new office is opened in Herning, Denmark. A new office is established in Sao Paulo.
2002
Blue Water opens an office in New Jersey, USA. Blue Water France celebrates call no. 100 by Caroline Shipping's vessels on the reefer service between France and Russia.
Brazil is busy shipping poultry and meat on Caroline's liner service, by charter vessels and containers to Russia, CIS the Black Sea and the Middle East.
2001
Blue Water's Schiphol office does logistics for Holland America Line (HAL). The intention is to widen the cruise logistics business to other offices worldwide.
Blue Water Singapore secures a contract for the shipment of around 7,000 tons of various kinds of goods to Keppel Fels' Shipyard in Baku - Caspian Shipyard Company.
The windmill business is getting busier in Esbjerg, as Blue Water ships wind turbines to the USA, and the world's biggest wind turbine park is being constructed at Horns Reef off Esbjerg.
2000
In January, a co-operation of long standing with Vesteraalen Shipping, Sortland, Norway results in the Norwegian company CTG - Coldstore and Transport Group - appointing us sales and port agents for their liner service calling at Esbjerg every week from the Norwegian west coast with frozen products.
An oil rig transport from Singapore to Baku is finally completed successfully.
Blue Water becomes member of IELA - International Exhibition Logistic Associates - a worldwide association of exhibition forwarders
1999
In April and May, the first two shipments for Keppel Fels, from Singapore to Baku at the Caspian Sea, are effected. The gigantic rig parts were shipped on heavy lift vessels from Singapore to Mariupol at the Black Sea for transhipment to Russian river vessels and barges for further transportation through the Volga/Don river system to the Caspian Sea. The biggest transport project in the company's history went off without a hitch.
In Greenland, Blue Water opens a second office in Sisimiut to look after trawlers.
Blue Water opens in Aktau, Kazakhstan to strengthen its service to the oil industry in Central Asia.
1998
On 1 April, Blue Water takes over "Kartoffelpakhuset" (storehouse of approx. 5000 sqm.). Blue Water enters the American reefer market.
Following tough negotiation in Singapore, Blue Water is awarded the transport contract for a giant drilling rig from Singapore via the Black Sea to Baku. To supervise the two-year project, Blue Water opens an office in Singapore.
1997
The development in Central Asia continues. In May, Blue Water opens in Tbilisi, Georgia, an important freight corridor between the Black Sea and Central Asia.
On 1 September, the silver jubilee anniversary of Blue Water is celebrated with a big reception party in Esbjerg.
A new division, Oil & Energy, is established to meet the steadily increasing demands within this special field.
1996
The Barcelona office is appointed IATA airfreight agent. In late April, Blue Water Caspian is established. Great things are expected from the activities in connection with the oil industry and also from the transport activities - especially food transport. Blue Water's two Dublin offices merge.
With the opening of an office in Kolding, Blue Water becomes part of the German express and distribution system - CTL.
1995
Haulage business in Great Britain expands to include 80% of fresh fish transport and 20% of continental export. Unfortunately, the business ceases with base activities remaining in Aberdeen only.
Blue Water Dubai sees an explosive increase in the transit transport via Iran to Central Asia - mainly Azerbaijan. Blue Water Aalborg succeeds in getting a five-year contract with the Thule Air Base.
1994
Blue Water Stevedoring does well in its first year, and Blue Water Greenland is appointed agent for Lloyd's of London. Blue Water opens an office in Moscow. 1 March Blue Water Barcelona sees the light of day.
An office is established in Ipswich, England in order to intensify the contact to our customers in the South of England. On 1 September, a new cold store/terminal is opened in Padborg to accommodate increased quantities of fresh fish.
1993
Shipping activities develop favourably in Denmark, Holland, France, England and Ireland. New initiatives are Blue Water Stevedoring, potato shipments from France and groupage service to the Middle East, West Africa, the Far East and South America.
Blue Water is busy with the handling and transport of fish products from Greenland, the Faroes, Norway and Denmark. The air freight activity is progressing.
1992
The co-operation with Dansk Eksportforening (The Danish Export Association) results in a lot of exhibition business, and an extended agency network in the Far East ensures a bigger share in imports for Blue Water.
M/S "Norröna" is fully booked on several departures from Hanstholm to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Shetland. Knud Sørensen Shipping becomes an integral part of Blue Water Esbjerg.
1991
Blue Water opens an office in Dubai, U.A.E.
In cooperation with the Esbjerg Business Academy, Blue Water starts its own vocational education of trainees. According to the F.D.E. (the Association of Danish Export Hauliers), Blue Water Transport is now the tenth biggest haulage contractor in Denmark.
Kurt Skov is awarded the Trade and Industrial Prize "The Golden Anvil" by the regional daily paper "Jydske Vestkysten".
1990
The year starts with the takeover of P.J. Transport and a busy Hirtshals office, transporting fish to Europe from the Faroes. Blue Water opens an office in Greenland.
Increased business in Holland results in a Blue Water office in Amsterdam. France is also busy. A new organisation is launched and activities are divided into shipping and forwarding. Traffic Managers are responsible for cross services. A merger takes place between the road transport department (groupage) in Esbjerg and Blue Water Transport.
1989
Blue Water opens in Brest, assisting the Lorient office, and several agency agreements are brought into effect. In March, an office is opened in Canada, and Blue Water, Hanstholm, takes over the agency for Smyril Line.
Blue Water Transport is converted into a 100% Blue Water controlled company. The staff of the Padborg office increase in order to cope with the growing number of trucks on the service to/from Germany. In October, Blue Water opens in Hirtshals.
1988
An overall Management Group is established, consisting of Kurt Skov, Carsten Eskildsen, Allan Junge, and Jørn Bøllund.
Activities continue to expand, greatly assisted by the continuous implementation of new technology. On 1 December, Blue Water Odense is established. The merger between Blue Water and Kurt Beier is finally approved, bringing the total number of trailers in Blue Water Transport up to 40.
1987
Blue Water is appointed Danish general agent for Baltic Line A/S, Sandnes. Shipbroking business explodes, and groupage traffic increases. In February, Blue Water Shipping, Hamburg opens.
On 1 September, we enter into co-operation with the courier company DHL. The old warehouse in Esbjerg is demolished and replaced by a new insulated cold store, as the shipment of foodstuff to the Middle East continues. Blue Water Transport becomes a reality with the acquisition of a haulage company.
1986
Blue Water office opens in Aalborg. Blue Water is part owner of Esbjerg Cold Store's ultra-modern 4,000 sq.m. cold store.
Following a successful reefer shipment of feta cheese to Iran, a permanent cooperation is established with Irano-Hind. On 1 December, Blue Water acquires the shipping company, Knud Sørensen Shipping.
1985
Reefer departures from Ireland to Eqypt become regular. Every month, an average of 4,000 tons foodstuff are shipped by Lauritzen Reefers from Denmark, Holland, and France to the Middle East. Blue Water buys the old customs house in Esbjerg for DKK 1.2 million.
Claus Sorensen A/S, Blue Water Shipping A/S and Greenland partners jointly establish Polar Line (export of shrimp and fish products from the North Atlantic to Denmark). On 1 September, Blue Water opens in Copenhagen.
1984
Warehouse capacity is extended considerably. Unfortunately, business decline in Norway results in the closure of Blue Water Stavanger. A small office is reopened in Esbjerg Airport.
1983
Blue Water is appointed Lauritzen Reefer liner agent for the entire Western Europe. Reefer vessels sail from Esbjerg, Flushing and Lorient every month carrying foodstuffs for the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. In October, Blue Water Stavanger is opened. The groupage service to West Germany, Holland, France, and Austria is expanded.
1982
Blue Water buys a truck and trailer for the regular service between Esbjerg and Manchester, and the Dublin branch office moves into new office and warehouse facilities. As part of the Middle East concept, we set up Lorient Shipping in France in December. In cooperation with Juhl & Ehrhorn, Blue Water starts United Stevedoring in the port of Esbjerg. More warehouse and storage facilities are acquired. Blue Water is transformed into a limited liability company (Ltd.) with a share capital of DKK 2 million.
1981
Blue Water takes over the company and business of K.Dideriksen, including a large warehouse and open storage area. A new two-storey office is built next to the warehouse.
Blue Water Rotterdam is established, and in Esbjerg, a separate, new offshore department is servicing the oil industry and its rapidly increasing demands for service and transport. On 24 November, the Port of Esbjerg is flooded and more than 30 Blue Water people are temporarily unable to leave the office.
1980
Blue Water Padborg opens on 1 March. With new agency agreements, groupage service is offered to Austria and France. Warehouse capacity is increased again. The office space in Esbjerg is becoming insufficient.
1979
Warehouse capacity is increased with a lease of part of a warehouse in the port of Esbjerg. On 1 September, Blue Water buys Spedition Berner. The Arabian Gulf service continues - Blue Water acts as agent for Amaltex, Paris.
1978
Blue Water's business is split into activities: UK/Ireland, air freight, shipping, and road transport. A proper accountant is employed, and we are appointed IATA agents. As the only forwarding company at the time, Blue Water opens an office in Dublin.
1977
Air freight business continues to grow, and the Middle East service becomes regular. Blue Water starts a pony truck service to West Germany and the activities are extended by road transport to other European countries: Benelux, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Scandinavia.
1976
Feta cheese export with reefer ships becomes good business, shipping crates of cheese from the port of Esbjerg.
In April, Blue Water takes over the lease for 150 sq.m. warehouse situated 3 kilometres from the port of Esbjerg. The position as an all-round local forwarding company is extended. Blue Water is appointed agents for Dolphin Reefer Line, running a liner service from Esbjerg to the Middle East.
1975
Kurt Skov buys out the two Copenhagen shipping companies out and takes over the business himself.
Blue Water's clientel continues to expand, and Blue Water Manchester is established. Further to the traffic to England, a regular groupage trailer service runs between Esbjerg and Dublin in Ireland.
1974
A regular groupage service to Manchester is established. With our first female colleague, the number of employees increases to 5.
1973
Kurt Skov (first from the right) and Jørn Bøllund (second from the left) in front of Esbjerg Airport with Blue Water's first two employees.
Blue Water is busy with increased ship broking and general freight forwarding. The office moves to Esbjerg Port, and two trainees are taken on.
1972
The first Blue Water office.
Blue Water Shipping is established on 1 September as a private limited company by two Copenhagen shipping companies, N.Schiøtt & Hochbrandt and Fellowship I/S.
A 20 sq.metre office in Esbjerg Airport is shared by the three employees: Kurt Skov, Bjørn Siig and Jørn Bøllund.