Angolan oil industry benefits from new seafreight service

Angola’s key industry now benefits from swifter importation of Texasmade machinery with the introduction of a new service, Angola Atlantic Line, which combines the routes of two seafreight companies. On the first leg of the journey, Gulf Africa Line (GAL) sets sail from Houston and docks at the Port of Walvis Bay where its shipments are transferred to Angola South Lines vessels. “GAL is a US line registered in the US out of Houston and will offload in Namibia. We then take shipments up the coast to Angola,” said Mark Kilbride of Cape Town-based Meihuizen International, which acts as SA agents for Angola South Lines. ASL is entirely owned by Angolan investors. “GAL ships can’t dock in Luanda or the other (Angolan) ports because of port depth issues – the vessels are too big. ASL is a feeder line, serving four locations in Angola,” said Kilbride. ASL ports of call are Sonils Terminal in Luanda which is dedicated to oil company shipping, Kwanda Base (Soyo), and Cabinda/ Malongo. ASL also ships 6m GP and 12m GP containers and 6m and 12m reefers up from SA, as well as breakbulk and out of gauge cargo. Primary SA shipments headed for Angola are project cargo used by the oil industry. Items manufactured in Texas and shipped to Angolan oil fields will include wellheads, pipes, casings and machinery. ASL arranges inland shipping if needed. “The new service is of great benefit to Angola’s oil industry needs. A GAL ship sails from the US to Walvis Bay every 20 days,” said Kilbride.