New logistics value chains are being pioneered by companies serving the emerging gas industry in the largely undeveloped north of Mozambique. “We recently celebrated another first where the LBH Mozambique team was instrumental in the set-up of the East Africa Line (EAL) with colleagues Meihuizen Freight (Cape Town) and Uniatlantico (Germany),” says Athol Emerton, managing director LBH Mozambique and LBH South Africa. EAL recently loaded the MV Unispace with 10 596 metric tons of project cargo and containers out of Cape Town and Durban for discharge in Nacala and Palma. “The Palma discharge was the first discharge at anchorage of a multi-purpose liner service vessel originating from South African shippers,” says Emerton.Cargo loaded ranged from steel sheet piles and mobile cranes to large structural prefabricated units which will be used in the building of the material offloading facility on the Afungi peninsular. “As our regional operations manager Rob Dean says: “If it can move, we will move it! “LBH Mozambique and close working commercial partner, Alpha Logistics, which are the founding partners of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the LNG Projects, the ALS Alliance, have had another successful year operating the ‘ALS Marine Bridge’. “This provides an essential service that uniquely connects global liner services in key regional ports with the Afungi LNG Projects in Palma via marine assets with shallow draught capability to call on Palma which currently has draught restrictions." Alpha installed a barge platform to serve as a quay and has supplied the equipment needed for the transfer of cargo from ocean-going vessels to the quayside. Once ashore, LBH handles the cargo and distributes the necessary materials to the LNG Afungi Project site at Palma. “As a local company with an over-30-year track record in Mozambique, we understand the importance of the project to the people of Mozambique,” says Emerton.
INSERT: “ LBH Mozambique was instrumental in setting up East Africa line with Meihuizen Freight and Uniatlantico.” – Athol Emerton
