Big changes ahead for maritime firms such as Lion Ferry and PZM

Its owner, Sweden's Stena Line, the largest ferry company on the Baltic Sea, will take over the ferries and their services. The change is due to an overall change in Stena's structure. Also in the maritime sector, Polska Zegluga Morska (PZM) plans to merge with Polskie Linie Oceaniczne (PLO), following a worldwide trend of consolidation among shipping companies. PZM purchased 28% of PLO subsidiary Euroafrica Shipping Lines. "The acquisition of Euroafrica's shares will let us bind two of Poland's largest shipowners groups," said PZM spokesman Krzysztof Gogol. "We are not waiting for privatization, and we will consolidate the companies now." (Rzeczpospolita, page 11, Prawo i Gospodarka, page 6)