Fast transit times are Maruba speciality

ALAN PEAT
THE SPECIALITY of Maruba, the Argentine-based shipping line now calling at Durban on the westward leg of a three-line Far East-SA-South America shipping service, is fast transit times for SA trade with the west coast of South America.
According to Captain Richard Brook-Hart, of SA agents Alpha Shipping Agency, the line – with numerous services linking both coasts of the continent – can offer a transit time about a week faster than any other liner service.
“Trans-shipping through the line’s home port of Buenos Aires,” he told FTW, “we can also offer shippers fast services to Central America and the West Coast of North America.
“The Durban call, arriving Tuesday and leaving Wednesday through a berthing window at Pier 1 instead of the busy Durban container terminal (DCT), is the SA port of reference for Maruba’s weekly, three-continent service.”
At time of writing, the line was already on its seventh sailing and had stuck to its named-day schedule.
“Indeed,” said Brook-Hart, “with berthing windows in both Durban and South America, we are maintaining our 70-day round trip transit time.
“Barring bad weather, our ships will continue to arrive and depart at each port of call on the named-day frequency.”
Maruba is no new name in SA. It also operates a world-wide bulk tramp service with frequent calls in this country, and ran a non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC) service before opening its liner operation in alliance with CMA-CGM and China Shipping.
The BA-based line is a private company which has now been in operation since 1962.