Sailors SocietyViganPort of South LouisianaGeneva DryBühler GmbHVan Aalst
  • Sailors Society
  • Geneva Dry
  • Telestack
  • Port of Stockton
  • TBA Group
  • Bühler GmbH

ESL Shipping celebrates 70 years

(Posted on 04/07/19)

ESL Shipping is celebrating 70 years in business. This day 70 years ago, the contract was signed to acquire 1911-built steamer Marja-Liisa Nurminen from John Nurminen. The vessel was renamed Arkadia, starting the tradition to name company's vessels after places in Helsinki. In today’s standards, the vessel was old and small. She was already 38 years old and had a cargo capacity of about 1900 tons, around one thousand tons less than our smallest vessels at the moment. Despite her age, she served the company for ten years.

Polttoaine Osuuskunta, the predecessor of Aspo Plc had started its shipping activities already in the 1920s when it started chartering vessels to import coke for housing companies’ central heating systems in the Helsinki area. The discussion to acquire own vessel had actually begun already some 15 years before the acquisition finally materialized.

From the humble beginnings, the company became a strong player in the transports for energy and industry sectors with its versatile, ice classed fleet with the ability for self-loading and unloading with vessel’s own cranes. Our vessels are regularly loading and discharging vessels at sea, the special service which we have over 30 years’ experience.

”Our success has always been based on our skilled personnel and mutually beneficial relation with customers and partners. We shall continue to create sustainable value for them all”, says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping Ltd.

In 2018, the company grew to a new class, when it acquired Swedish shipping company AtoB@C Shipping and took delivery of greenest bulk carriers of the world, 25,600 dwt Viikki and Haaga.

ESL Shipping is now a leading carrier of dry bulk cargoes in the Baltic region. Today the company operates 49 vessels 2,900 – 56,000 deadweight tons and had a turnover of 120.1 million euros. With new vessels and new customer segments at AtoB@C Shipping, we are ready to continue successful operations for years to come.

Latest News

Better safeguarding measures needed to support cadets at sea

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Cadets are increasingly struggling to complete their cadetships due to a shortage of available placements... Read more


Algoma focuses on reliable service and fleet improvements

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Algoma Central Corporation has reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Algoma... Read more


ClassNK releases ‘Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines’

(Posted on 01/05/25)

ClassNK has released ‘Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines’ which aim to achieve sustainable... Read more


MCTC ensures quality remains at top of the table amid global tensions

(Posted on 30/04/25)

In the face of unpredictable provisioning costs, port disruptions, and longer lead times MCTC has reinforced... Read more


NORDEN raises full-year guidance for 2025

(Posted on 28/04/25)

On the back of the increased gains from sales of vessels and good operational performance, NORDEN, a... Read more


INTERCARGO welcomes ILO recognition of seafarers as key workers

(Posted on 28/04/25)

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has welcomed the recent decision... Read more


MMS advises why seafarers must remain vigilant about malaria

(Posted on 25/04/25)

Despite its lack of publicity, malaria remains an ongoing epidemic and a perilous threat to seafarers... Read more


Veson: Bulker S&P activity falls sharply in Q1 2025

(Posted on 22/04/25)

Due to market uncertainty, overall sale and purchase levels for Bulkers have fallen year on year, with... Read more


Britannia Group announces CEO succession plan

(Posted on 22/04/25)

The Britannia Group, a leading P&I insurer, has announced that its Chief Executive, Andrew Cutler... Read more


INTERCARGO responds to IMO's decision on GHG reduction measures

(Posted on 15/04/25)

At last week's landmark MEPC 83 meeting, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States... Read more


TMS Awards 2023CimbriaPort of StocktonTBA GroupTelestack
  • Cimbria
  • Port of South Louisiana

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping