CMA CGM reinstates Durban - West Africa service

CMA-CGM has reinstated its weekly named-day container service from Durban to West Africa. A decision was taken to by-pass Durban in the third quarter of last year when congestion and lost productivity made the call unprofitable. “Delays in Durban were disruptive to the overall schedule into Africa, which relies on adherence to advertised arrival and departure dates,” Roderick Eaton, marketing manager of ISS-Voigt Shipping which represents the French Line in South Africa, told FTW. The problem was addressed by senior executives of the line and port, and instead of serving the main container terminal CMA-CGM vessels are now calling at the multi-purpose terminal, which allows faster vessel turnaround. The line has also been promised adequate landside equipment for productive container handling. According to Eaton, during 2003, trade with Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin topped R 4.4 billion.