The Hamburg Süd Group, including Aliança, Columbus Line and Crowley American Transport (CAT), has been awarded the Q1 Quality Status by the Ford Motor Company (USA). This now places Hamburg Süd as a shipping group among the small circle of only six international shipping companies to have received this distinguished award to date. CAT qualified for this quality status last year.

The American automobile manufacturer confers the Q1 Quality Status on companies whose transport and logistics services satisfy the demanding service standards set by Ford. The award was preceded, among other things, by special Ford training sessions for staff extending over six months as well as a comprehensive review of the internal quality procedures at Hamburg Süd and its subsidiaries. In the process, the long-standing ISO certification of the shipping group was an important prerequisite.

Hamburg Süd and Aliança serve the needs of the Ford Motor Company in the Europe - South America East Coast trade, CAT transports automotive parts and part-assembled vehicle units on the trade routes between North and South America.