The history of the privately owned Deutsche Afrika-Linien/John T. Essberger Group of Companies dates back to the year 1924 when the former Imperial Navy Officer, Commander John Theodor Essberger (1886-1959), established himself as a tanker shipowner in Hamburg/Germany. Today the company, which has meanwhile become highly diversified, is managed in the third generation by the Essberger/von Rantzau family. The company headquarters are based on Palmaille 45-49 in Hamburg-Altona overlooking the river Elbe. The ensemble of buildings, a classical 18th century palais accompanied by contemporary steel and glas architecture, reflects both historical and modern views.
Today the company consists of the shipping lines Deutsche Africa-Linien, the traditional liner services to Southern Africa, as well as the DAL service to East Africa and the Islands of the Indian Ocean, WAL West-Afrika Linien-Dienste serving the West African ports and the groupÕs tramp shipping activities pooled in TOL Transocean Liners. TOS Transocean Shipmanagement manages the companyÕs own fleet and vessels of third parties.
The history of the privately owned Deutsche Afrika-Linien/John T. Essberger Group of Companies dates back to the year 1924 when the former Imperial Navy Officer, Commander John Theodor Essberger (1886-1959), established himself as a tanker shipowner in Hamburg/Germany. Today the company, which has meanwhile become highly diversified, is managed in the third generation by the Essberger/von Rantzau family. The company headquarters are based on Palmaille 45-49 in Hamburg-Altona overlooking the river Elbe. The ensemble of buildings, a classical 18th century palais accompanied by contemporary steel and glas architecture, reflects both historical and modern views.
