CSAV launches SA – Middle East service

Schedule includes CT for the first time
RAY SMUTS
JULY 15 will see the launch by Chilean carrier Companhia SudAmericana de Vapores SA (CSAV) of its new Marco Polo service linking South Africa with the Middle East. Whereas the port of Durban is included in the line’s weekly ASAX service between South America, South Africa and the Far East, the Marco Polo will feature Cape Town for the first time. Oscar Borchards, business unit manager at the Mother City container terminal, says Marco Polo vessels will go onto the window slot system, involving between 400 and 500 TEUs a week. Whereas ASAX deploys nine vessels of around 3 100 TEUs each, the Marco Polo service will deploy four vessels of around 1100 TEUs. The first two vessels on this service, the Vega Fynan and the Tampa Bay, both brand new chartered ships, will sail into Durban from the Far East and on to Cape Town to commence the Marco Polo rotation. The vessels will call Cape Town , Durban , Jebel Ali and return to Cape Town. The service will provide an efficient transhipment platform for cargoes from east coast South America to the Middle East . A number of CSAV executives based in Brazil joined their colleagues from Rennies Ships Agency - the carrier’s official representative in South Africa - in Cape Town last week to celebrate the new service. Gonzalo Baeza, senior vice president, east coast South American liner services, told the gathering: “This is an important moment for the CSAV group because this is the beginning of our new focus on Africa. “We have been serving Durban for many years in very nice numbers with very satisfying results, but now is the time to increase and consider other markets via South Africa to the Middle East and probably Europe and other destinations. “South Africa, integrated with east coast South America, the Middle East and Europe, is a huge market for us.” James Reddy, MD of Rennies Ships Agency, stated: “Africa is an area in which CSAV was active to a limited extent and the confidence demonstrated by CSAV underpins their decision to expand their service offerings to our continent.” • CSAV operates 36 services and 12 special services and operates 140 vessels with a further 11 new ships to be added by next year.