After the tremendous success of Top Gear in Barbados in 2014, the weekend of the 7 and 8 May saw the inaugural Barbados Festival of Speed. Once again Geest Line was ever present supporting this prestigious event by being the carrier of choice for vehicles from the UK to Bushy Park. This year it was difficult to look into Barbados’ world class racing circuit without seeing Geest Line branding.
Geest line is very proud to have been trading in Barbados since 1961. Captain Peter Dixon, Managing Director of Geest Line said ‘Due to our long association with Barbados Geest Line is very much viewed as part of the commercial family on the island, as such it is very important to us to continue to support such events which bring the islands and the wider global community together.’
Once again Lewis Hamilton was in attendance with his team, undoubtedly the star of the show he lit up the circuit in Bushy Park with his 2013 F1 car. Also taking part were Monster trucks from the USA and banger cars from the UK. But perhaps the highlight for the younger kart and aspiring F1 drivers was when Lewis took to the track to race against them.
NEWS FLASH ** GEEST TO CALL GUADELOUPE, FRENCH WEST INDIES ** NEWS FLASH
Geest Line – The premier shipping line to the Eastern Caribbean, are pleased to announce their expansion into Guadeloupe in the French West Indies (FWI) with a direct weekly call to Pointe-à-Pitre commencing April 2016.
Kevin Cool Commercial Manager of Geest Line commented “This is Geest Line’s response to the growing demand from the trade for the requirement for high quality, direct and dedicated services to the main destinations within the Eastern Caribbean region. Geest has a long and respected tradition within this region, however we do not sit on our laurels as we consistently explore opportunities to expand the Geest product and service offering to our existing and potential clients. We offer a personalised logistical solution, backed with decades of experience and built upon an established and trusted network of professional agents throughout the region.”
The dedicated direct service commences from Portsmouth (UK) each Tuesday and Le Havre (France) each Wednesday connecting both not only direct with Guadeloupe but also to:
With the fastest direct crossings and arrival at Pointe-à-Pitre in ten (10) ex UK and nine (9) days ex France. Geest Line offers multiple container options which briefly comprise of 10’, 20’ & 40’ reefer, dry, open top and flat rack units available to carry a myriad of cargo types including general/reefer, hazardous cargoes and live vehicles under deck.
Commenting on the announcement Peter Dixon, Managing Director of Geest Line stated
“There has been a requirement from the trade for some time that Geest would extend its Fast and Reliable service to include a weekly call in Guadeloupe. We are therefore now pleased that we can provide this new service to Guadeloupe, in addition to maintaining our regular service to Martinique. The company is also considering its position in serving other ports within the Caribbean given changing market conditions”
For more information, service details and rates please contact us:
UK: +44 1489 873 511 [email protected]
FRANCE: +33 235 191 794 [email protected]
For the second time in the event’s history Geest Line is very proud to announce our sponsorship of the Barbados Festival of Speed. Why not come and join in May 8 2016.
Geest Line is proud to sponsor the Antiguan team in this year’s Atlantic rowing challenge. Take a look at the video about the challenge ahead!
MV Benguela Stream has carried enough bananas for everyone in Britain to have 36 each has celebrated the start of her 100th voyage.
She set sail for the Caribbean this week (Tuesday, September 15) after a ceremony to mark the occasion at Albert Johnson Quay in Portsmouth.
A celebration lunch was held aboard the Dutch-registered 150m vessel and the company’s Financial Director Chris Roberts presented a commemorative plaque to her new Captain, Paul Hagendoorn and previous Captain, Arno Durkstra.
In her 100 round trips for Geest Line the 9,300-tonne Bengeula Stream has transported 2.3 billion bananas and travelled more than a million miles – equal to more than 400 times around the world. Geest Line has been the premier cargo shipping company linking Europe and the Caribbean for more than 60 years.
Mr Roberts said: “I am delighted that Bengeula Stream has reached this landmark. She was purpose-built for the ocean transport of perishable cargo and that she carries out this role perfectly is testament to the expertise of her 20 crew and Geest Line staff.
“She is versatile and absolutely suits Geest Line’s needs. She has a big capacity in four temperature-controlled holds, a highest speed of 21 knots and only needs to refuel in Portsmouth.
“I must emphasise that Geest Line is about much more than just bananas. We pride ourselves at the company on the diversity of the products and cargo we carry – any break bulk cargo from personal effects and furniture on pallets to race horses and supplies for major cruise ships in the Caribbean.”
Benguela Stream, fitted with her own crane, can carry 324 20-foot containers and, unusually for a major shipping line, will also accommodate 10-foot containersBengeula Stream’s 28-day round voyage takes in Le Havre, Martinique, Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts and the Dominican Republic – carrying freight to the Eastern Caribbean, operating inter-island services and returning across the Atlantic laden with millions of bananas and other tropical fruit.
She is one of four similar specialist refrigeration ships on charter by Geest Line from Dutch company Seatrade since 2008. That charter has just been extended to December 2017. Sister vessel Klipper Stream completed her 100th voyage last month (August) with Timor Stream and Agulhas Stream to follow suit in the next few months as Geest cements its position as the only shipping line sailing direct from the UK to Eastern Caribbean with no transhipment.
On the 14th June 2000, Bradley was tragically killed in a road accident near his home in Hampshire, just four days after his 9th birthday. Bradley’s Foundation was formed by Tina and Gary Dine with some close friends to commemorate Bradley’s 21st birthday on the 10th June 2012. This year the one-day festival raised £12,000 for cancer charities which included the Teenage Cancer Trust appeal.
BBC DJ Nelson topped a bill on Saturday 05 September 2015, which also included Southampton songstress Charley Macaulay, pop singer Danielle May and indie rockers The Novatones, fresh from local Hampshire sets at Common People and Blissfields this summer.
Geest Line have proudly sponsored this charity since it’s birth and has provided limitless time and effort to help support the cause. MD Peter Dixon says: “Geest Line have been delighted to support Bradley’s Foundation for the last three years and to see the success in raising funds in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. It is always a challenge keeping large amounts of food and refreshments cool at such events and our 40 Foot Refrigerator (in the form of a Geest Line Reefer Container) performed the task admirably!”
We are delighted to see the success of Bradfest and look forward to future events.
Prior to sailing from Albert Johnson Quay, Portsmouth (Tuesday 11 Aug 15) for her 100th voyage for the UK’s premier Caribbean shipping line, MV Klipper Stream hosted a celebration lunch for her crew, members of MMD and Geest Line.
Captain Peter Dixon, the Managing Director of Geest Line, presented the ship’s Master, Captain Gerard Flippo, with a plaque to mark the occasion. In doing so he thanked the Captain and crew for all their hard work and sterling service as they carry out the requirements of the Line in the Caribbean, UK and France.
Geest Line has been operating in the Caribbean for over 6 decades, Klipper Stream is one of four specialist refrigerated (reefer) vessels which has been under charter to the line from since 2008. A very versatile vessel, she is capable of carrying 324 x 20 foot containers for cargo (or 40 foot equivalent), and her 4 holds are used to carry Break Bulk Cargo. Geest Line is the leading shipping line in terms of Break Bulk Cargo carriage from UK and Europe to the Caribbean and can carry almost anything on deck. Her 4 holds are temperature and atmosphere controlled, allowing her to ship millions of Bananas from the Caribbean to the UK and Europe on a weekly basis.
During her 100 voyages Klipper Stream has covered approx. 1.2 million miles travelling from Europe to the Caribbean and inter island between Antigua, St Kitts, Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad, she has also just finished a mango season in Puerto Rico. She takes eight days to make her Atlantic crossing and only 28 days for a round trip Portsmouth to Portsmouth. She has carried approx. 2.6 billion bananas from the Caribbean to the UK – enough to supply over a quarter of the earth’s population with a banana.
Klipper Stream, in concert with her 3 sister vessels (Benguela, Agulhas and Timor), maintains a weekly presence for Geest Line within the Caribbean, arriving Portsmouth on a Sunday and sailing Tuesday. Klipper Stream 100 will arrive in Le Havre AM Wednesday 12 Aug – Fort de France, Martinique PM Thursday 20 Aug – Bridgetown, Barbados AM Friday 21 Aug – Port of Spain, Trinidad AM Saturday 22 Aug – St George’s, Grenada AM Sunday 23 Aug – Kingstown, St Vincent PM Sunday 23 Aug – Castries, St Lucia AM Monday 24 Aug – Vieux Fort, St Lucia PM Monday 24 Aug – Fort de France, Martinique AM Tuesday 25 Aug – Roseau, Dominica PM Tuesday 25 Aug – Manzanillo, Dominican Republic PM Thursday 27 Aug before returning to Portsmouth PM Sunday 6 Sept. Her westbound cargo includes brand new luxury cars, large excavators, containers with dry cargo; sugar, fertilizer, household goods, British products etc. She will move various cargos between the islands, whilst once again her eastbound return leg will see her full to the gunnels with tropical produce.
GEEST LINE
”CONNECTING THE CARIBBEAN”
Geest Line are proud to announce sponsorship of the Wadadli Atlantic rowing team based in Antigua. The challenge commences in December 2015 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and there starts the adventure crossing the Atlantic to arrive in English Harbour, Antigua. The team leader Dr Nick Fuller decided to take up the challenge of rowing the 2,800 miles last year after watching the rowers arrive many times over the years from his small fishing boat he owned and with the desire to be the first Antiguan team to enter the challenge. The team has been entered as a Foursome with the name of Wadadli – the local variation of the Amerindian name for Antigua Waladli or common for visitors the name of the local brew!
We wish the team well in their training and look forward to further updates. Please click here
Geest Line are pleased to announce their membership to the British International Freight Association.
BIFA is the trade association for UK-registered companies engaged in international movement of freight by all modes of transport – air, road, rail and sea. BIFA has around 1,500 corporate members, which offer a wide range of services within the logistics and supply chain management sector. Geest Line will benefit in four main ways from its membership to BIFA:
Geest Line continue to operate four vessels on weekly service to/from UK, France and the Eastern Caribbean.
Should you require further information &/or quotation for any of our services please do not hesitate to contact us:
Consignees/Importers &/or their Agents should be aware that with effect from 1st October 2014 a local charge of $28 per B/L will be applied by Admiral Shipping Ltd on all imports.
As part of their unwavering commitment to customers, Admiral Shipping endeavours to deliver the most competitive and dependable transportation value. Due to dramatic increases in administrative costs, their ability to sustain and invest in the service delivery that you have come to expect has been impacted. Therefore, in order to continue to provide the highest quality of service, application of a local Administrative fee has become necessary. This charge is common throughout the Caribbean and sanctioned by the various local Shipping Associations.
For further clarification &/or additional information please do not hesitate to contact:
Karen Lawrence
Admiral Shipping Ltd
9 Bridge Street
PO Box 99
Castries
St Lucia
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 (758) 458 8250
To visit the website click here.