Flexibility pays off for niche operator

The flexibility to adapt quickly to market needs and to serve ports linking Mozambique with the rest of the world has paid dividends for niche shipping operator Messina Line Mozambique, according to managing director Captain J Misra. Its fleet of ro-ro vessels, which carry both containers and ride-on cargo, is particularly well suited to project cargo, says Misra. The vessels and services are expected to be in demand when the LNG projects start in earnest. Large components can be driven on and off, which eliminates the need for specialised cranes and handling equipment. The line operates a fortnightly rotation Barcelona, Genoa, Alexandria, Mersin, Port Said, Jeddah, Djibouti, Mombasa, Dar Es Salaam Durban and Maputo. The return leg is Maputo, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Jeddah, Suez and Barcelona. It has a feeder arrangement for containers in and out of Beira, and services to Nacala. In Nacala Messina ro-ro vessels can also call on inducement. “Our focus is on feeder routes where our specialised vessels fill the gap left by the mega container carriers,” he says.