The story
Svane Shipping A/S became a reality on May 1, 2007 when the two Kolding shipping companies, Neckelmann & Hansen and Svane & Gjørding, merged under the name Svane Shipping A/S, thus forming a new, large shipping company in Kolding.
The merger was to ensure that Kolding would also have a port with an active environment and a competitive, modern and solid shipping company in the long term, to the benefit of both the city, the port and the many customers in the Triangle area. The Port of Kolding already played a central role in the development of the local area for several reasons. It was one of the city’s largest workplaces, while many companies in the local area were also dependent on being able to receive goods from home and abroad quickly and efficiently.
In 2007, the Port of Kolding was the country’s 8th largest in terms of freight handling in tons and had the advantage of being trimodal even then. This means that the goods here could be handled by ship, car and train. In many other ports, the rails had gradually been dismantled, so it was no longer possible to transport goods directly to and from the port area on railcars.
Old virtues – new opportunities
Both Svane & Gjørding and Neckelmann & Hansen were proud and traditional Kolding companies, both of which had almost a 100-year history behind them.
Svane & Gjørding was founded in 1926. The company already had subsidiaries and associated companies in England, Poland and Latvia and was a co-owner of Havneterminalen A/S. Neckelmann & Hansen was established in 1911 by Chr. Neckelmann. In addition to shipping, Neckelmann & Hansen operated, among other things, the freight line to Bornholm, which ceased at the end of the 00s.
The merged company, Svane Shipping A/S, was given an address in the Svane & Gjørding building at Kolding Harbour, in the half-timbered building at Nordkajen 2, which in 1990 had a “twin” added, creating Svane Shipping’s characteristic domicile.
Svane Shipping’s new logo was 2 stylized swans, illustrating the pairing that resulted from the merger. The logo was intended to show how the two companies will fly in the same direction in the future, but equally point forward and symbolize the partnership that the company has with its customers.
Svane Shipping grows to double its size
After a number of years as a co-owner, Svane Shipping A/S took over the then partner, Havneterminalen A/S, on 1 January 2014, and with the takeover of Havneterminalen, additional capacity, facilities and competencies were added. The two companies were then continued as one, under the name Svane Shipping A/S. This means that Svane Shipping A/S has a total of 70,000 m2 of state-of-the-art warehouses and terminals at its disposal – most of which are connected to the headquarters at the port of Kolding.
Svane Shipping’s office is future-proofed
In late summer 2020, Svane Shipping will undertake a thorough renovation of the company’s office in the conservation-worthy premises at Nordkajen 2. ”We could easily have chosen to build a new premises, but the half-timbered house at the harbor is one of the trademarks of the port of Kolding and our home for decades. We have a strong desire to preserve the spirit we have around our company, so it was natural for us to renovate rather than build new,” says CEO Jesper Hansson.
Just before the summer holidays, all Svane Shipping employees temporarily moved out of the head office. So did all the old offal in the building. Only half-timbered walls, windows and roof remained. The re-establishment of the office environment was carried out with respect for the old building, as well as with a focus on ensuring that the office met the new office standards, consumption patterns and future growth targets for Svane Shipping.
Throughout the planning and execution phase of the renovation, Svane Shipping focused heavily on two parameters in particular – The office must be a nice and pleasant place to be, and at the same time it was important to get as much out of the m2 that was available. The fact that the half-timbered houses at the harbor are worthy of preservation set some natural predetermined frameworks for the renovation, and at the same time gave rise to a more creative and authentic approach to the restoration.
The story of the plank fence at Svane Shipping
In 1928, the newly started brokerage firm, C. Christensen & Co., was granted permission by the port committee of Kolding City Council to build a half-timbered house as an office building.
Under the synonym “& Co.” hides the fact that it is Consul Christian Eff’s son Valentin. In the approval from the harbor committee, it is noted that the plot must be fenced and planted, so that the building and its surroundings appear as an ornament to the harbor square.
In August 1929, Valentin Effs complained on behalf of the brokerage firm about damage caused to the building during repairs to the harbor quay. There are also complaints that the approximately 100 loads of topsoil that were laid out for planting have been rendered unusable, as the site has been used as a storage area during the repairs.
There was also a claim for compensation of DKK 638 to repair damage to the building, an offer that Valentin Eff’s had received from a local craftsman in Kolding. Initially, the harbor committee rejected the complaint – it was a decision that the chairman of the harbor committee, Christian Eff’s, had no influence on as he was absent, but after an inquiry from the Eff family’s lawyer, the harbor committee decided to erect a white-painted fence, but with all future maintenance being the responsibility of the tenant.