Shirts, foodstuffs and industrial equipment: Blue Water Shipping moves the cargo to where it makes a difference

One might be rummaging through different kitchen cabinets to make breakfast, and perhaps one has to remember to take a pill to keep allergies at bay. Regardless of what one's morning routine entails, as a Dane, it is highly likely that one has been in contact with something that Blue Water Shipping has moved around Port of Aarhus before leaving home in the morning.

We make a living by providing transportation and logistics. We are the market leader in Denmark, and many of the goods that end up in stores pass through the docks in Aarhus in containers from places like the Far East or South America. We retrieve the containers at the port, unload them, and ensure that the goods are distributed

— says Jan Dam Poulsen, Regional Director of Sea, Air, and Logistics for the Nordic region at Blue Water Shipping.

Thousands of tons of goods pass through the docks at Aarhus Port every day. And in short, Blue Water Shipping ensures that the cargo moves on so that it benefits both Aarhus and the rest of the country.

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This is a task they have been performing for over 50 years in Denmark, which is the company's home turf. And even though the headquarters are in Esbjerg, a large part of their work takes place in Aarhus, where they have offices both at the port and in the northern part of the city.

We have a close collaboration with both Port of Aarhus and other stakeholders at the port. And, of course, also with companies outside the port, which typically could be some of our customers. The cooperation works really well, and there is good dialogue," says Jan Dam Poulsen.

The companies at Port of Aarhus usually have a designated contact person they can reach out to if they need to discuss anything port-related. Blue Water Shipping is certainly no exception.

It could, for example, be about maintaining the warehouses that the port leases to the logistics company, the local infrastructure at the port, such as the road network, and much more. Regardless of the topic, the phone is always open for Blue Water Shipping when they call their contact person at Port of Aarhus.

The collaboration with Blue Water Shipping goes way back, and we understand each other's businesses. When they need something from us or vice versa, we quickly find a solution without having to explain each other's procedures or rules. The mutual respect makes the collaboration efficient, and it's really a pleasure

— says Jesper Skatka, Commercial Manager and Blue Water Shipping's contact person at Port of Aarhus.

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Facts about Blue Water Shipping

• Blue Water Shipping was founded in 1972.
• The company has 17 offices in Denmark and more than 80 worldwide.
• They employ 150 people in Aarhus and 2,700 globally.
• In 2023, they had a turnover of almost nine billion Danish kroner with a profit of 147 million.
• The company was founded by Kurt Skov, who is still a member of the board.

Diverse Cargo requires versatile employees

A myriad of different Blue Water Shipping machines roam around Port of Aarhus. They could be gigantic forklifts, reach stackers, or terminal tractors, and even though the machines themselves are quite different, many of them share several characteristics.

Firstly, they all bear the Blue Water Shipping logo on the side. Secondly, ultimately, the machines are all there to assist in moving the cargo in and out of the port. And thirdly, Nick Bovbjerg spends a part of his everyday life in them.

"It's important work. We handle everything. Some of the boxes down here have bamboo socks in them, and others have a semiconductor for a machine somewhere. It could also be canned goods. We are an important part of the supply chain, and that's something I think about," says 45-year-old Nick Bovbjerg.

And that consideration is crucial because some of the machines he sits behind the wheel of every day can easily lift 35 tons, so there are a lot of forces at play.

All lifts must be calculated so that neither personnel nor goods are harmed, and it requires an understanding of both machines and the colleagues one works with.

"I'm very happy with my workplace. We have a good camaraderie, and no two days are the same. We look out for each other and support each other, but we can also tease each other. We have a bit of everything here," says Nick Bovbjerg, who has been part of Blue Water Shipping since 2017.

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The supply chain must be tight

About 200 companies are located in the port area in Aarhus, but Blue Water Shipping is one of those that really stands out.

This is due to the combination of large machines and busy operations, which means you see them in many places on the roads in and around the port. But it's also because of their many warehouses, where goods that are not immediately going further into the country are placed in a waiting position. And space for short-term storage is an important element for the company.

We have large areas both outdoors and indoors, but over time, we could need more space, and precisely space is something Port of Aarhus is under pressure to provide. So, we look positively at the expansion that is coming. There will be a need in the long run to ensure that there is the necessary capacity in Aarhus to meet the needs of all of Denmark

— concludes Jan Dam Poulsen.

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