First direct ro-ro service on Far East - Angola route begins

TERRY HUTSON NILE DUTCH South Africa has launched a monthly direct sailing between China and Angolan ports on the company’s Asia-Angola-South Africa-Asia ro-ro service. Vessels will sail direct from China for Angola ports, returning via calls at Durban and Singapore. The first vessel on the service, NDS Progress, sailed from Durban yesterday (July 20) for arrival in Shanghai on August 5. The new service will operate on a monthly cycle on a rotation of Huangpu (Shanghai), Lobito, Luanda, Durban, Singapore and Huangpu with a full ro-ro breakbulk service between these centres for the first time. Additional ports to be served on a transhipment basis include Pointe Noire, Xingang, Dalian, Matadi, Douala and Cabinda. The service will cater for breakbulk, project cargoes, motor vehicles and containers.