January 27 - Strategic additions to the board of the deugro Group at the start of the year have been announced by the Kelsterbach-based heavy lift, project and specialist cargo forwarder.

From the start of this year, the following members have joined its management team. Klaus H Hilpert, a long-standing industry professional with previous positions including head of Panprojects, as well as the head of F.H. Bertling Logistics Group, has joined duegro Group as new executive vice president.

 

Philipp M Luehrs has joined as new regional vice president Middle East. His last position was with GeodisWilson as regional vice president - Industrial Projects, Oil & Gas - Middle East & India. Prior to this he was with Rohde & Liesenfeld, where his last role was CEO Middle East region.

 

The appointments come as the deugro Group starts 2009 in a bullish mood. One key achievement this month has been the successful completion of a contract to ship 53,000 tonnes of steel and raw steel materials for an ethylene cracker project in Singapore. The first charter for this project commenced in May 2008, followed by eight consecutive full charter vessels from China and Korea directly to the client's private port on the Island Pulau Ular, located approximately 15 km south of the coast from Singapore. All vessels arrived on time, within budget and in accordance with the client's strict handling and stowage requirements.

 

The family-owned forwarder has been involved in many high and heavy shipments, including a project to service a thermal power plant in Algeria from the US as part of a USD192 million project, a project to deliver windmills to major wind farms in the UK and Ireland and deugro Singapore was awarded a contract in November 2008 for the initial freight portion for the Koniambo Nickel Mining Project, New Caledonia.