May 12 - Ahlers welcomed over 600 customers, partners, friends and staff to the renovated Ahlers House to celebrate its 100th birthday.
An exhibition housed on the 10th floor of Ahlers House, which will run from May until November 2009, provides a visual overview of the most important developments of the Ahlers company over the last 100 years.
To commemorate the company's 100 years in business, Christian Leysen has also published a book: "100 jaar Ahlers in Antwerpen. Een familiebedrijf in een wereldhaven." [100 Years of Ahlers in Antwerp. A Family Business in a World Port]; an English version of which will be available later on this year.
In a separate development, Ahlers has also set up a branch in Luanda, Angola, from where it will offer maritime training and provide international and local crews for seven drilling vessels (floating drilling platforms) off the Angolan coast.
Ahlers operates as an agent for shipowners with interests in West Africa (Nile Dutch, EuroAfrica Lines, Portline). These are mostly container services but also involve the shipping of rolling stock and steel, ro-ro project cargoes, and conventional tonnage.
