Ethiopia-bound cargo switches to Djibouti amid simmering tensions

WITH THE recent escalation of the simmering tensions between land-locked Ethiopia and Eritrea, SA cargo bound for Ethiopia is now being shipped via the neighbouring Gulf state and port of Djibouti.
According to Brian Hawkins, m.d. of Durban-based Diamond Shipping - SA agents for the Ethiopian Shipping Line - the latest border clashes have led to Eritrea (the neighbouring, Gulf-side state which usually provides Ethiopia with harbour access) closing its ports to its inland neighbour's cargo.
But it's business as usual, he said, with things going quite smoothly for us through the alternative of Djibouti.
But Mute Vujuvic of Jadro Agencies - SA agents for Jadroplov Shipping, which also handles the SA-Ethiopia trade - is not so happy. With all the ships now being redeployed through Djibouti as a result of this conflict, he said, we are now facing congestion. Ships are waiting outside for 4-6 days at present.
No-one was available for comment at Messina, which also transports Ethiopian cargoes.