Antwerp-based shipping agency De Keyser Thornton Group (DKT) has hired two top ex-Zeamarine managers to strengthen its presence in the Benelux and operate AAL Shipping’s new global liner service, which the company announced last week.

DKT is AAL’s exclusive agent in the region and the newly hired managers, Kurt Lyssens and Peter De Boer, both experienced liner services operators, will help the company run AAL’s new liner service between Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia.

Sven De Meester, DKT Group’s CEO, commented:  “These gentlemen have 30 years respectively worth of expertise in the operation and promotion of global liner services, at management level. With that experience and the huge respect they each command within the region’s breakbulk and project heavy lift shipping community, we strengthen our offering and send a clear message of intent to the market.”

Lyssens and De Boer both have had long careers at Rickmers Line and made the switch to Zeaborn/Zeamarine, when the now distressed carrier took over Rickmers’ business operations in 2017. Both men have already begun assumed their new roles at DKT and are based in its headquarters in Antwerp.

“DKT has been our exclusive representative in the Benelux for two years and we have a close working relationship. The appointment of Kurt and Peter is not only significant for them, but also for the promotion of AAL’s new liner service as both men are already working alongside us on it”, said Eike Muentz, AAL’s general manager in Europe.