The global economic boom of the 80s is followed by a series of economic crises. The number of cars being shipped around the world nose-dives in the middle of the 90s but then recovers towards the end of the decade.
Wallenius Lines concentrates solely on vehicle transportation and develops the business to offer more liner based port-to-port shipping.
The company further consolidates its global operations by additional acquisition of a number of agents.
Wallenius Lines carries more than 1,000,000 vehicles a year for the first time.
1999
Wallenius merges with Wilhelmsen
On July 1st 1999, Wallenius merges with Norway's Wilhelmsen Lines forming a joint commercial and operating company named Wallenius Wilhelmsen. Ingar Skaug is appointed President. The merger makes Wallenius Wilhelmsen the largest RoRo shipping company in the world. Each parent company has a 50 per cent interest in the new company.
The new company has responsibility for the commercial operation of 60 RoRo vessels, owned by each parent company. However, manning and technical operation of the vessels remains with each owner.
Wallenius Lines' logistics and transport company in the UK, Richard Lawson Autologistics Ltd was sold to Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines during the year.
1998
Wallenius obtains environmental certification
Wallenius Lines becomes one of the first shipping companies in the world and first shipping company in Sweden to obtain ISO 14001 environmental certification. The environmental management system is co-ordinated with Wallenius Lines' total quality and safety system, which now includes ISO 9002, the ISM code and ISO 14001.
Two new RoRo vessels
Two vessels are chartered and renamed MS PORGY and MS BESS. Their cargo capacity is 550 cars, or 150 cars and 510 trucks.
1997
Delivery of new vessels
MS DON CARLOS, MS DON PASQUALE and MS DON QUIJOTE are delivered in 1997 and 1998, bringing the total number of newbuildings delivered to six (out of 10). Their cargo capacity is 5,870 cars, or 2,950 cars and 490 trucks.
MS MAERSK TIDE is delivered. She is the first in a series of five charter vessels ordered. Her cargo capacity is 4,350 cars, or 1,540 cars and 470 trucks.
Wallenius Lines strengthens global profile
The subsidiaries in England, Finland and France change name. Mann Motorships becomes Wallenius Lines (UK) Ltd, Helsinki Motorships becomes Wallenius Lines Finland Oy, and Motorships SARL becomes Wallenius Lines France SARL.
Wallenius Lines also takes over its Swedish agent and opens an office in Göteborg with responsibility for the Swedish market.
The company's representative in Korea sets up a branch office, Wallenius Lines AB (Korea Branch) to strengthen the company's presence on the Korean market.
The company opens a local office in Australia
Increased logistics capacity
Wallenius Lines acquires the subsidiaries in Germany and Poland of Walon, a logistics and transport company. The companies are renamed Richard Lawson Auto Logistik GmbH and Richard Lawson Auto Logistik Spzoo. Another Wallenius Lines subsidiary, Richard Lawson Motor Co Ltd in Dundee, which provides logistics and distribution services in England and Scotland, changes its name to Richard Lawson Autologistics Ltd.
Wallenius Lines opens another terminal and VPC centre on the US east coast in Brunswick to prepare and adapt imported cars for the American market. The centre is operated by Atlantic Vehicle Processors Inc, a division of the company's Pacific Vehicle Processors Inc subsidiary, which operates a similar VPC centre on the USA's west coast.
1995
New traffic to Australia
Wallenius Lines starts traffic between Europe and Australia.
Quality and safety certification
Wallenius Lines is the first shipping company in the world to receive the British Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and Lloyd's Register of Shipping's quality certificates in accordance with ISO 9002 and the IMO's ISM code.
1994
Own agents in Finland and France
The company purchases its Finnish agent, Helsinki Motorships, and also takes over the whole of its French agent, Motorships SA.
Delivery of new vessels
MS TITUS, MS TURANDOT and MS DON JUAN are delivered in 1994 and 1995. They are the first three in a series of 10 newbuildings on order. Their cargo capacity is 5,850 cars, or 2,960 cars and 490 trucks.
Wallenius Lines also purchases MS SKAUKAR together with NAL, a Norwegian shipping company. The vessel was previously on charter to Wallenius and is renamed MS FIDELIO. Her cargo capacity is 5,600 cars, or 2,200 cars and 510 trucks.
A vessel is sold
One of the car carriers, MS DON CARLOS, is sold to Australia and is converted into the world's most modern cattle carrier.
1993
The company starts offering logistics solutions
Wallenius Lines begins building up resources for complete door-to-door transportation solutions: from car factory to dealer. In consultation with the customer, the company works out the entire transport chain (or part thereof) and undertakes to carry out the sea and land transportation, storage, PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection), information management, customs clearance procedures, etc.
The company's subsidiary, Integrated Vehicle Services, which Wallenius Lines owned together with two of its agents, is closed down, and the integrated transport services are transferred to Wallenius Lines' head office. The units within the Scottish car transport and logistics company Richard Lawson Motor Co that formed part of Integrated Vehicle Services are also transferred to Wallenius Lines.
The next year, Wallenius Lines purchase the whole of Richard Lawson Motor Co. As the company is one of Britain's largest car transport companies, Wallenius Lines is now in a position to offer its customers inland transportation under its own management.
1992
Own agents in Germany and Dubai
Wallenius Lines and Karl Geuther & Co set up a joint company to hold the agency in Germany. It is named Wallenius & Geuther GmbH & Co KG.
The next year, Wallenius Lines establishes its own representative in Dubai and re-opens traffic in the Gulf in partnership with Japan's NYK line after a two-year suspension on account of the Gulf War in 1991.
1991
Delivery of new vessels
MS AIDA, and a year later MS OTELLO, with their capacity to carry 5,870 cars, or 3,030 cars and 490 trucks, are delivered.
Gulf traffic suspended
Wallenius Lines suspends its traffic to ports in the Gulf on account of the Gulf War
Wallenius acquires its own coastal shipping line
Wallenius Lines acquires a 50 per cent stake in Europe's leading coastal shipping line, UECC (United European Car Carriers), so that it can offer its customers more ports and more frequent traffic between the Continent and the North Sea/Baltic Sea. UECC has approximately 20 vessels, with cargo capacities varying between 450 and 1,150 cars.
Operations in USA expand
Wallenius Lines North America Inc, the company's agent on the US east coast, also takes over the agency, terminal and stevedoring operations on the west coast.
The next year, Wallenius Lines opens its VPC (Vehicle Processing Centre) centre at Port Hueneme on the US west coast. The centre offers customers shipping cars to the USA the opportunity to have their cars prepared and adapted for the American market, or inspected before final delivery to the dealers. The centre is managed by a Wallenius Lines subsidiary, Pacific Vehicle Processors Inc.
1990
Wallenius Lines gets new president
Arne Koch, Wallenius Lines' president, retires, and is succeeded by Christer Olsson.
Closer ties with agents
Wallenius Lines forms Mann Motorships Ltd, which becomes Wallenius Lines' agent in Britain. Other owners include the Dutch agent Cobelfret and UCI. In 1995, Mann Motorships becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Wallenius Lines.
Motorships Inc, Wallenius Lines' agent on the US east coast, is aquired and given a more prominent Wallenius profile when renamed Wallenius Lines North America Inc.