Deutsche Afrika-Linien (DAL) is a Germany-based shipping company with a focus on s outhern Africa, particularly South Africa. A parent g roup of companies , it was es tablished in 1924 when John Theodor Essbergeres tablished hims elf as a tanker s hipowner in Hamburg . Today, the group has a number of divisions , operating als o in the dry, liquid-bulk and container s hipping s ectors .