TAIWANESE FUHAI Line has translated words into action and begun replacing its four-strong fleet with younger, bigger and faster vessels. In South Africa last week to touch base with clients and to announce the upgrade was Taipei-based Fuhai Marine Enterprise general manager Philip Yeh who told FTW that this latest move underscored the lineÕs commitment to the SA trade. "We are definitely here to stay, despite the negative information that has been filtered through the local market," he said. The first "new" vessel, the Widar, departed Hong Kong on March 5, to be followed by the Pu Glory (March 15), Silver Ocean (March 25) and a fourth, similar type vessel on April 5. "TheyÕre all much younger ships, and faster which translates into improved transit times," Johannesburg-based sales manager Mervyn Timothy told FTW. "The more modern tonnage is also better able to cope with weather extremes like strong winds." The upgrade adds 800 teus of capacity, says Johannesburg-based director Jimmy Chao, who is more than satisfied with the lineÕs performance to date. "January is usually a quiet month, and our volumes under the circumstances were good. WeÕve already stopped taking export bookings on our next vessel, the Silver Ocean, and with the confidence shown by our principal in developing the SA market, the outlook for the year ahead is very positive."
