ASPO ACQUIRES FLEET FROM RAUTARUUKKI


According to the agreement, the Aspo subsidiary ESL Shipping Ltd
has acquired the fleet of JIT-Trans Ltd, a subsidiary of the
Rautaruukki Group, consisting of five 13,500 ton barges and two
push-tugs for approximately EUR 23 million. 
 
ESL Shipping transports dry bulk cargo mainly in the Baltic Sea
area. In 2002 the company shipped about 7,4 million tons of
cargoes and its net sales totaled EUR 43.1 million. Before the
acquisition, the company's fleet comprised six dry bulk freighters
and three barges.
 
 
ASPO Plc
 
 
Gustav Nyberg           
CEO  
           
For more information contact:
Eerik Yrjölä, CEO of ESL Shipping Ltd, +358 9 7595 781,
+358 50 357 9099
eerik.yrjola@eslshipping.fi