Our Mission is to provide fast, reliable and safe liner shipping services for the transportation of containerised and break-bulk cargoes between Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean, with the aim of achieving long term profitability by providing all customers at all times a qualitative superior service.
Our Vision is to be recognized as the first choice qualitative specialist for liner shipping services within the African and Indian Ocean liner trade.
Loyalty, Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Competence, Effectiveness
The history of the privately owned Deutsche Afrika-Linien dates back to the year 1924 when the former Imperial Navy Officer, Commander John Theodor Essberger (1886-1959), established himself as a tanker shipowner in Hamburg/Germany.
In 1941 Essberger invested in the dry cargo market by taking over of the Deutsche Afrika-Linien (DAL), a liner company engaged in the Africa trade for decades.
After World War 2 the Essberger-fleet had vanished. But John T. Essberger soon managed to build up his company once again. In 1959, after his death, his daughter Liselotte von Rantzau-Essberger (1918-1993) took over the helm of the group. Under her careful guidance, buoyed by the West German Wirtschaftswunder, the business experienced strong growth in the service to Africa and tanker shipping.
In the 1980s the third generation comprising Dr. Eberhart von Rantzau and Heinrich von Rantzau adapted the company to new requirements, to a time when liner services allied with international partner shipping lines could be further strengthened.
Today the company, which has meanwhile become highly diversified, is managed by the third generation of the Essberger/von Rantzau family. The company headquarters are based on Palmaille 45-49 in Hamburg-Altona overlooking the river Elbe. The ensemble of buildings, a classical 18th century palais accompanied by contemporary steel and glass architecture, reflects both historical and modern views.
The company consists today of the shipping lines Deutsche Afrika-Linien, the traditional liner services to Southern Africa, as well as the DAL service to the Islands of the Indian Ocean.
View our historic Picture ArchiveIn our long history DAL Deutsche Afrika-Linien has always aimed at offering our customers a truly personalized service of highest quality. Our long experience in the trades to Africa combined with modern thinking ensures the quick adaption to the changing customer requirements. We are continuously looking for ways to improve our processes to ensure excellent, tailor-made and innovative services now and in the future.
DAL was among the first shipping lines serving the African continent. Since then we successfully operate as an independent family-owned company with a sound business philosophy. We make careful investment decisions and strive for long-term profitability and long-term relationships with customers and business partners.
The preservation of the environment has highest priority for our company. We constantly try to reduce the environmental impact of our activities by taking appropriate measures and setting environmental goals. Employees and business partners are encouraged to protect our limited natural resources and treat the environment responsibly.
As a family-owned company we care about our employees by respecting the individual, offering equal opportunities and diversity. We invest in the development of our employees and wish to keep them long-term. Our group values “Loyalty, Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Competence and Effectiveness” are the base for our daily work and interaction with customers and partners.
Legal compliance with all relevant national and international conventions, laws and regulations is of highest importance. When cooperating with customers, partners, competitors and authorities we act with transparency and condemn any engagement in illegal actions.
UAFL is a specialist for shipping goods from and to the Indian Ocean covering East and Southern Africa and the Islands of the Indian Ocean. UAFL is part of Deutsche Afrika-Linien.
