DAL looks forward to growth on Moz feeder service

Next month will see the third sailing in the United Africa Feeder Line service along the Mozambique coast following its launch in November last year under new owners Deutsche Africa Linien. And DAL Agency SA MD Ron Frick is confident of growth on the route for the year ahead. “UAFL started the regional service at a quiet time and the vessels experienced excessive berthing delays attributed to gantry crane breakdowns in the Beira port,” Frick told FTW. “But we understand they are acquiring new gantries which should relieve the port congestion in Beira once taken into service later this year. “With the first two sailings behind us, we look forward to a positive 2013,” he said. DAL managing director Eberhart von Rantzau, was equally upbeat in his message to customers in the latest company newsletter. “The UAFL operation is progressing favourably. We have invested in tonnage, expanded the agency network and are busy modernising the hub on the Comoros. We are also working on expanding the UAFL liner services.” UAFL’s services call at Durban, serving Maputo, Beira, Nacala and Pemba on the Mozambique coast. In addition they cover Madagascar, Mauritius, Comores and Seychelles, also offering a liner service between Europe and the Indian Ocean Islands via Jebel Ali and a regional service between India/Pakistan and the Middle East to the Indian Ocean islands.