Carriers add capacity on US and Middle East services

JOY ORLEK SHIPPERS ON the US and Middle East routes can look forward to increased capacity thanks to upgrades on the America Express Service operated by by Safmarine in conjunction with Maersk Line and MSC, and the Middle East – South Africa service, a joint Safmarine and Maersk Line operation. The AMEX service is set to return to a fixed day, weekly frequency with the addition of an eighth vessel, the MSC China, while additional capacity – particularly for reefers – will accommodate growth on the MESA service, according to Alex de Bruyn, Safmarine’s South Africa trades executive. “The additional vessel on the AMEX service will restore schedule reliability while the deployment of a fourth vessel on the current three-vessel MESA service will provide new opportunities for Eastern Cape exporters. “The inclusion of a direct call at Port Elizabeth on the export leg is an important enhancement as it will provide exporters – particularly Eastern Cape fruit shippers – with a more reliable product on the growing trade between South Africa and the Middle East/Indian subcontinent.” The additional vessel on the MESA service was inaugurated on November 19, with a revised port rotation of Durban - Port Elizabeth - Salalah - Durban.