Anticipating changing situations is an essential part of the mix

For veteran shipping firms working
into and out of Angola, knowledge
of how the country operates is an
advantage when advance word
comes of changing procedures,
which can be anticipated to the
shipper’s advantage.
An example happened in early
September when Angolan officials
declared a ban on second hand
rolling cargo, including cars and
trucks, from the country’s key port
at Luanda.
NileDutch, the global sea freight
giant in business in Angola for 28
years, ensured that its customers'
second hand rolling stock would
arrive at Luanda aboard the
NileDutch Prodigy 847 and the
NileDutch Prominence 845 before
the September 20 cut-off date, and
assured shippers that it would in
future route such cargo through the
ports of Lobito and Namibe.
Within four weeks the
authorities had changed this
decision again, and the line
adapted the operation immediately
by stowing cargo in such way that
it can be discharged
in Luanda if this is approved
(only several days before arrival),
and otherwise leave it onboard
for Lobito.
The Angolan ports Luanda,
Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda and Soyo
are well served by NileDutch with
dedicated services from Europe,
Asia, Brazil and also South Africa
(Durban and Cape Town – SAWA
Service). Roro and container
vessels equipped with a variety
of cargo handling equipment
transport project equipment, heavy
lifts, containers (including reefers)
and roro.
Apart from Angola NileDutch
also offers services to other parts
of West Africa such as Libreville,
Pointe Noire and Matadi. On
top of this the line also connects
Durban with China and South
East Asia for imports and exports.
This SWAX service operates
twice a month between the ports
of Shanghai, Shekou (China), and
Singapore in Asia and Durban
(South Africa), Lome (Togo), Tema
(Ghana) and Lagos (Nigeria).
Since June of this year the line
has been represented by a new
independent entity operating as
NileDutch South Africa with
offices in Johannesburg, Durban
and Cape Town. The company’s
nearly three decades of experience
includes almost one decade in
South Africa.