Offers flexibility and innovation to ocean transportation
In just over two decades Dan-Gulf Shipping Incorporated has established itself as an undeniable force in the Louisiana shipping industry. Founded in 1993 by Niels Busse, the company started by offering ship agency services, cargo and ship brokerage and soon began operating its own tonnage offering ocean freight services worldwide. The vessels were initially operated on tramp basis through the affiliated vessel operating company Caytrans Project Services.
Some of Dan-Gulf’s first work included four full shipments of telephone poles and accessories from the port of Gulfport to Belize. In the early days the company also handled a large project which entailed chartering a handy size vessel to make four consecutive voyages from the port of Baton Rouge to Buenaventura Colombia with 26 inches od epoxy coated pipe.
In the early 2000’s the company offered regular break bulk liner service from the U.S. Gulf, including the Port of South Louisiana, to the Mediterranean, as well as a regular service from South East Asia to the U.S. Dan-Gulf was a pioneer in providing ocean freight services, under U.S. license, from the U.S. to Cuba, at one time handling over 24 ships a year.
Caytrans began providing regular break bulk service into Colombia and Venezuela in 2004. This service, which in 2006 entered into a partnership with BBC Chartering and began providing service as Caytrans BBC, is today one of the most prominent shipping companies from the U.S. Gulf to Colombia and Venezuela offering transportation solutions to the world’s major energy and infrastructure companies.
On Jan. 20, Dan-Gulf handled its largest project cargo piece to date as the appointed agent at the Louisiana Terminal for the record-breaking 790-ton, 128-foot-long project piece that journeyed to New Orleans from Jebel Ali, Dubai, aboard the MV Palabora.
The company also recently handled a project into East Coast Nicaragua that entailed the use of 10 dedicated vessels loaded with oil well supplies. The cargo had to discharge at El Bluff and El Rama Nicaragua—two severely draft and load restricted ports.
“It is a good example of our flexibility and innovative ocean transportation. The shipments were extremely time sensitive and required the use of specialized shallow draft vessels, which were also equipped with specialized cranes. Once the project was complete, Dan-Gulf was also redeployed a substantial amount of equipment and material back to the USA,” Busse said.
Last year Dan-Gulf moved six land drilling rigs from Houston to Dos Bocas Mexico. Each rig consisted of over 4200cbm worth of cargo and they all needed to be transported within a four-week time period requiring close coordination and vessel scheduling. The company used its own fleet of vessels to successfully complete the project in time and within budget.
Dan-Gulf Shipping currently employees 14 people and works closely with their partners at BBC Chartering who provide worldwide sales support, primarily in Houston and Colombia.
Busse is an avid cyclist who believes strongly in contributing to the community through athletic activities—specifically the MS-150. Many with Dan-Gulf, including Busse, have been personally touched by Multiple Sclerosis. However, MS-150 is only one of many local charities Dan-Gulf supports by using its worldwide network of vendors, clients and friends to raise resources.
“Cycling and raising money together for local charities also helps build comradery among Dan Gulf employees,” Busse said.
He added, “We are a team of dedicated shipping professionals who come to work every day with the singular focus of providing innovative solutions to our client’s transportation needs. No cargo is too big or too complicated for us to move. We have several employees or long term contractors that have been in the business for over 50 years. This together with the rest of our team allows us to provide first class service.”