Our heritage · 1972 → today
Fifty years of one for all, all for one.
Trans Maritime is an independent Swiss family-run business with a rich history in logistics. We pride ourselves on maintaining personal contact and providing tailored solutions for every transport need. This is how we got here.
Our UK home
Thetford, Norfolk. Since January 2024.
Trans Maritime UK Ltd was formed to give the group its own front door in Britain after more than fifty years with the same UK partner. To mark the occasion a painting of Thetford was commissioned, and it hangs in the office at Breckland Business Centre today.
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Basel founded
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UK service began
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Thetford opened
Artist's impression of Thetford. Tap to play “Our journey in logistics: a visual experience”.
Milestones
From a Basel freight yard to a two-nation family.
The story of Trans Maritime AG and its British subsidiary, year by year.
1972
Trans Maritime AG founded in Basel
Fritz Bernhard Walliser founds Trans Maritime AG at Basel-Dreispitz, building traffic to and from the Benelux states and the maritime trades.
1973
The Great Britain service begins
Services to and from Great Britain are established, the start of a UK partnership that has now lasted more than five decades.
1981
Move to Birsfelden
Head office relocates to Rheinfelderstrasse 12, Birsfelden, Basel, still the group's home today. A second office opens in St. Margrethen.
1993
Among the first ISO-certified forwarders in Switzerland
Certified to ISO 9002, one of the first logistics companies in Switzerland to achieve it. The quality system has evolved with every revision since.
1994
Ireland & Northern Ireland
Services to and from Ireland and Northern Ireland are built up alongside the UK traffic.
2003
A new generation
The business passes from Fritz Bernhard Walliser to Bernhard Walliser, who leads the family company today.
2012
AEO status & SQAS
Authorised Economic Operator status is granted and the group's SQAS assessment for the chemical industry is established and renewed regularly.
2022
Fifty years of Trans Maritime
The group celebrates its 50th anniversary, still 100% owned by the Walliser family.
2023
Trans Maritime UK Ltd is founded
After more than fifty years with the same UK partner, the group opens its own subsidiary in Thetford, Norfolk.
2024
Operations begin in Thetford
Trans Maritime UK Ltd opens its doors in January 2024. A commissioned painting of Thetford marks the occasion and hangs in the office today.
Today
One for all, all for one
A team of experienced and highly motivated people in Thetford and Basel, keeping freight moving every day between the UK, Switzerland and Europe.
What hasn't changed
The values that outlast every trailer we've ever run.
Personal contact
You deal with people who know your freight by name. No ticket queues, no call centres, just the planner who booked the trailer.
Family owned, still
100% owned by the Walliser family since 1972. Independent decisions, long-term relationships, no quarterly pressure to cut corners.
Certified quality
Among the first Swiss forwarders certified to ISO 9002 in 1993. Today ISO 9001:2015, AEO status and regular SQAS assessment.
Rooted in the community
From Thetford Town FC to the Felixstowe charity beer festival and Alzheimer's Society, the UK team gives back where it lives.
“Our aim is to remain an independent, successful family business, run humanely and ethically, even in difficult economic times. One for all, all for one.”
Ready when you are
Got freight for Switzerland? Tonight's trailer has space.
Send us the details and a real person in Thetford will come back with a firm price, usually within the working day.