About Plouvier Transport

Plouvier Transport together with it’s sister company Intertrans in Birsfelden are active in inland tanker shipping. They specialise in the transport of mineral oil products across the entire European waterway network.

All our assignments are carried out under a quality system in which reliability, experience, attention to safety & environment together with a future-oriented vision are of high importance.

As such, all procedures & instructions contained in the quality manual and captain’s manual under Iso 9001 – 2015 are aimed at providing our customers with the best possible service through these objectives and through continuous improvements.

The history of Plouvier

At the end of the 19th century …

…the inland waterways activities of the Plouvier group find their origin when Prosper Plouvier Senior initially invested in several barges. As from the beginning of the 20th century other branches were founded in Germany and Holland which were managed by Prosper junior and Desiré Plouvier. At the outbreak of world war I the Plouvier group was already well developed and owned a considerable number of barges.

After World War I…

…the group recovered its elan and was able to profit from the reconstruction of Western Europe. When Prosper Plouvier senior deceased in 1936, his 2 sons , Prosper junior and Desiré took over the business.

Between 1950 an 1965…

…the Plouvier organisation developed at top speed and at the peak, privately owned between 500 and 600 barges. In the meantime the first steps were taken to invest in seagoing vessels and several freight ships of 16.000 t were built.

By the time of the first oil crisis in 1974…

…a large part of the fleet had been cut down or soled and only a number of large tankers were still in possession of the company. Soon the inland shipping activities were limited to Plouvier Transport in Antwerp and VOLA Transport Company in Rotterdam. Chartering became the main core.

In 1990…

…the group invested in 4 large inland tank barges of 3000 tons or more. This was the beginning of a new era for Plouvier Transport who today still is a renowned broker in the inland tanker chartering in Europe.

As from 1995 till the present…

… because of the takeover of several chartering companies (EICC, Swintank, Intertrans Tankschiffahrt and Verol Chartering) there was the intention to continue to play a major part in the international tanker chartering.

In the meantime this line has been extended by various investments in new double-hulled ships both under our own management and in cooperation with private owners.