At Antwerp-based groupage company SSC Consolidation, Jeremy Claessen is the new sales manager. He has worked at SSC for four years, where he now takes over from Sylvia Lathouwers. She will now focus on the WorldWide Alliance’s Belgium and France global accounts.
Antwerp-based groupage company SSC Consolidation is a so-called NVOCC (non vessel operating common carrier) that focuses mainly on the import and export of LCL shipments (less than container loads). The ocean freight forwarder or rather ‘groupeur’ also specialises in the handling of dangerous goods, FCL, trucking and recently also has its own customs department
SSC Consolidation has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Dubai, among others, and is part of the global agent network WorldWide Alliance. That is an umbrella organisation of NVOCC services worldwide that was founded under the impetus of Shipco and Saco in 2007. SSC Antwerp’s office is located at Straatsburgdok Noordkaai, employing nearly 100 clerks.
“SSC started in 1998 in Antwerp as Shipco Transport, with 3 people,” Sylvia looks back. “In 2004, SSC was taken over 50% by Hamburg-based Saco Shipping. In 2005, Dirk Baetens came on board who helped ensure the necessary stability and growth of the company.”
Police officer
Sylvia Lathouwers worked in the claims department for a long time and then became sales manager of SSC. From 1 March, she will work on behalf of the WorldWide Alliance.
“In my new position, I will be the point of contact for global accounts; think of companies like Nippon, DSV, K&N, and so on. Given my background, I have a feeling for the market here, I will focus on the global accounts for Belgium and France,” says Lathouwers.
Jeremy Claessen has been working at SSC for four years. Although he actually wanted to become a police officer, he ended up in the maritime world. His first job ‘in maritime’ was with Cosco. Afterwards, he worked for 9 years at OOCL where he went through quite a trajectory. When Corona came up, he was contacted by SSC and made the switch. Initially as outside sales of the FCL department, he later joined Sylvia’s team in a sales role for all the group’s products.
Great colleagues
“I am very happy to have been given that opportunity then and grateful that I can now take the next step,” says Claessen. “What appeals to me in the job is that no two days are the same and so you learn something every day. I also find the human contact very important.”
“And not forgetting the great colleagues,” Sylvia adds with a laugh. “But indeed: the great thing about our sector is that it is and remains a people’s business, thank goodness!”
