ESL Shipping responds to increased demand by time-chartering additional capacity

Aspo Plc    STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE  August 27, 2014 at 14.00

ESL SHIPPING RESPONDS TO INCREASED DEMAND BY TIME-CHARTERING ADDITIONAL CAPACITY

ESL Shipping Ltd, part of Aspo Group, responds to its increased sea transport demand by time-chartering dry bulk carrier m/s Nassauborg until the end of the year. Sailing under the Dutch flag, the 1A ice-strengthened 20,000 ton vessel is well-suited to complement ESL Shipping's existing fleet within the same size range.

"ESL Shipping is constantly improving its ability to react quickly to changing levels of demand. In the coming fall, especially the offshore loading operations of large ocean liners are expected to be active," says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping.

ESL Shipping is the leading dry bulk cargo company in the Baltic Sea region. In 2013, ESL Shipping transported approximately 11.6 million tons. Including m/s Nassauborg the company's fleet consists of 15 vessels, of which the company owns 13 in full. One is leased and one is time-chartered.

ASPO Plc

Aki Ojanen
CEO

Further information:
Aki Ojanen, CEO Aspo Plc, +358 9 521 4010, +358 400 106 592, [email protected]
Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping Ltd, +358 9 5211, +358 50 351 7791, [email protected]

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www.aspo.fi

Aspo is a conglomerate that owns and develops business operations in northern Europe and emerging markets, focusing on demanding B-to-B customers. Our strong company brands - ESL Shipping, Leipurin, Telko and Kaukomarkkinat - aim to be the market leaders in their sectors. They are responsible for their own operations, customer relationships and the development of these. Together they generate Aspo's goodwill. Aspo's Group structure and business operations are continually developed without any predefined schedules.