Changes to SALCS in the offing

ALAN PEAT THE BLACK owned shipping line, SA Liner Container Services (SALCS), still exists – but is currently running on a “very half-operational basis”, according to MD Ian Wicks. “There are lots of changes coming,” he told FTW, “including investors. But nothing has been concretised yet. “We should have finality by the end of the month.” The line started up its Europe-South Africa service last February, but investor problems saw its charter - the brand new, 750TEU vessel MV Encounter from Dutch short-sea company JR Shipping BV – being withdrawn by the owners. Alternative slot-charter arrangements were announced – designed to fill in until new charter vessels were organised - but there were no indications from the shipping industry that this service was being used. There is no confirmation of the latest investor state-of-play.