BEE line launches Europe service SA Liner Container Services is born

JOY ORLEK SOUTH AFRICAN Liner Container Services, a black-owned South African shipping line, will launch a monthly, fully cellular service on the Europe - SA route this month. The 750TEU Encounter, a newly built Dutch flagged vessel to be launched in Harlingen on May 15, will initiate the service on May 17 calling Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The service is expected to develop, over the next six months, into a 10-day frequency as sister vessels are added. The 60% black-owned shareholders include Makana Investments (ex Robben Island prisoners), Autshumatu Investments (Robben Island prisoners who now run Robben Island Ferries) and Numsa Investments (National Union of Metal Workers). The remaining 40% is in the hands of Vonden Investments (a port supply company), Stratford Family Trust and a company to be named. The Board of directors was ratified at the weekend and includes chairman Kaobitsa Maape, CEO Ian Wicks, Paul Visser, Eric Bendell and two directors still to be confirmed. “For the shareholders this represents the culmination of 18 months of planning and organising,” Wicks told FTW. “Certainly with the recent implementation of the maritime charter this service demonstrates that South Africans working together can create meaningful change.” Agents have been appointed in the United Kingdom (Cory Brothers Shipping Agency), Germany (Menzell & Co Schiffsmakler, Holland (Neptumar) and Belgium (Neptumar). The line is based in Safmarine House in Cape Town, but is in no way linked to Safmarine.