Chopol (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Polish–North Korean maritime transport company

Chopol 조선-뽈스까해운회사 Korean-Polish Shipping Society

Company type State-owned enterprise
Industry Transportation
Founded [1965], 1987
Founder governments of DPRK and Poland
Defunct July 12, 2018 (2018-07-12)
Fate Liquidated
Headquarters Pyongyang, Gdynia
Area served Southeast Asia
Services Freight forwarding

Chopol (조뽈), Chopolship,[1] the Korean-Polish Shipping Society Chopol (Korean: 조선-뽈스까해운유한책임회사, Polish: Koreańsko-Polskie Towarzystwo Żeglugowe) was[2] a Polish-North-Korean company that dealt in the maritime transport of goods, established during the communist Polish People's Republic era. It was the only company with Polish capital that operated in North Korea. It had a seat in Pyongyang, North Korea, and a branch in Gdynia, Poland.

The company's history began in 1965, when the Korean-Polish Society of Brokers (조선-뽈스까중개인협회, Koreańsko-Polskie Towarzystwo Maklerów) was established, dealing in trade in sea cargo. It was transformed into Chopol.

The company was established in 1987 in order to maintain a constant trade exchange. It was supposed to bring magnesite to the Polish People's Republic, while Polish coke was to be transported to North Korea. The company had a small fleet, initially consisting of several vessels (including Pukchang, Pong Su), but eventually only one — the Chopol 2 bulk carrier, which cruised mainly in the region of Southeast Asia. The crew of the ship were exclusively Koreans.

During its activity, the company dealt with transport (except for assumed goods, i.e. coke and magnesite), including: rice, sugar and wood.[3]

The company was liquidated on July 12, 2018.[2]

  1. ^ alternative name
  2. ^ a b Koreańska Republika Ludowo-Demokratyczna - Polska w KRLD, Portal Gov.pl
  3. ^ Spółka z przeszłością, Rzeczpospolita daily, 18-04-2013