Specialists to care for your cargo

Clipper has been serving the steel industry since 1992. We carry more than two million tons of steel each year as we focus on supplying steel-consuming industries in the Americas in particular.

We run three dedicated steel services:

Find link to sailing schedules below

Just-in-time deliveries

We ship very valuable commodities such as steel coils, structural steel, and steel pipes. Transportation is time-sensitive and many end-users – particularly the automotive industry – adhere to just-in-time production principles, meaning they only ship the cargo last minute to arrive right when it is needed.

Cargoes are carried onboard suitable, modern, and geared tonnage, allowing vessels to self-load and discharge in ports otherwise restricted by shallow water, locks, narrow channels, and river bends. All vessels comply with US regulations and maintain valid certifications.

We rely on port captains and stevedores who are specialized in handling steel products and have vast experience in their field. We have agents and stevedores in Northern Europe, the US, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.

Inland transportation

In addition to ocean transport, we arrange inland transportation of steel with truck, rail, or barge – getting the cargo all the way to its final destination.

We do our best to accommodate customers’ request and offer a total solution including onshore transportation and permits in close collaboration with partners.

Sailing schedules

IPA Steel terminal in Altamira

Excellent infrastructure and high capacity

The IPA Terminal in Altamira, Mexico, is a focal point in Clipper’s comprehensive steel service network in the Gulf of Mexico.

Because of its location, the terminal easily serves the USA, Mexico, and South America, and its first-class infrastructure provides excellent rail and road links to industrial centers and major cities in Mexico.

The terminal is a joint venture between four international shareholders, including Clipper. The IPA Terminal is the only dedicated steel terminal in Altamira, and it has become one of Mexico’s most successful private terminals dedicated to steel, general cargo, and project cargo.

Handling approximately two million tons per year of different types of rolls of galvanized steel, cold rolled and hot rolled, the terminal is a vital part of the supply chain for several global car manufacturers.

Operational since 2009

The terminal can unload up to 25,000 metric tons of steel coils in just 24 hours. Two cranes, each of 100 mt capacity, perform up to 20 cycles per hour depending on cargo type and stowage.

The terminal has complete camera surveillance, round the clock security and complies with all ISPS security and customs regulations.

A Clipper vessel, carrying 3,785 mt of steel coils to the automobile industry, was the first to call the terminal when it became operational in 2009.

Visit the terminal’s web site or watch this video on YouTube.