LINX Port Services has become the latest corporate associate member of Shipping Australia, even while its future ownership remains undecided.
LPS describes itself as one of the country’s leading port logistics and infrastructure providers, operating in 16 locations across Australia and specialising in stevedoring, berth operations and management, infrastructure and warehousing, for customers moving breakbulk, bulk and project cargo. The company says it is also an emerging leader in delivering bespoke and scalable services to the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors.
It is present in every major Australian port and is Australia’s largest PCTC and RoRo stevedore.
Parent Linx Cargo Care was placed on the market in 3Q 2023 with owner, Canada’s Brookfield, looking for a buyer of the entire entity or one or more of the group’s four divisions: auto logistics unit Autocare, Linx Port Services, forest industries logistics specialist C3 with main business in NZ, and Linx Regional Logistics, which is mostly active moving goods into and out of the Riverina area.
Earlier this year the Australian Financial Review revealed Autocare had been acquired by Japan’s Optimus Group, which specialises in used cars and sea and land logistics and already deals in used cars’ export, import, wholesale and retail. A Pyrmont, Sydney-based subsidiary, Dolphin Shipping Australia, is a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC).
DCN understands Brookfield had hoped to exit Linx by the end of 2023, but no other sales have been announced, although it is believed negotiations are well underway for Linx Regional Logistics with a major international buyer.
LPS EGM Vince Trotter said the company’s membership of SAL was “an opportunity for us to contribute our knowledge and collaborate with both Shipping Australia and other members on important challenges with the betterment of the industry top of mind.”
SAL CEO Capt Melwyn Noronha noted that a highly-functioning maritime logistics industry enables and boosts economic activity and a broadly-represented maritime logistics industry could be successful in advocating for policies that benefit all the people of Australia: “We look forward to working alongside Linx Port Services,” he said.
