LAST WEEK's launch of the Gold Star Line, China Shipping Container Line and Australia National Line joint weekly service between South East Asia, South and West Africa marks a double milestone. That's according to the architect of the service, Gold Star Line's Captain Yigal Dafni, who was in South Africa last week to celebrate its launch. Operated by ten 1700 teu vessels, the service will provide a named day sailing and will open markets never previously served directly on a weekly basis from South Africa, like Thailand and Vietnam, Dafni told FTW in Johannesburg. The port rotation - Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Laem Cha Bang, Port Kelang, Colombo, Reunion, Durban, Lagos, Tema, Cotonou, Lome, Abidjan, Durban, Colombo, Port Kelang, Ho Chi Minh - effectively combines two GSL services which previously served South East Asia and West Africa separately, improving frequency from every 10 days to weekly and providing a 70-day round trip. GSL will contribute six vessels, with a 65% share of the slot capacity, while ANL and China Shipping provide two vessels each with a 17,5% share. Dafni is confident that the market is ripe for the expanded capacity. "India and China are getting bigger and bigger in terms of volumes into West and South Africa. Our intra Asia coverage - we serve almost every Chinese port - will offer big benefits to Chinese exporters." Cargo will be hubbed in Port Kelang connecting into GSL's services to North East Asia, Hong Kong, Korea and China. Colombo was the previous transhipment hub, but the negative impact of political problems in the region prompted a switch to Port Kelang which Dafni believes will better serve shippers' needs. GSL's penetration of the Asian market has increased dramatically in the last decade. "In 1995 the total GSL volume exported from the Far East to South Africa and West Africa amounted to less than 6 000 teus. "Last year GSL volumes increased to 35 000 and next year the projection is 40 000," Dafni said.l Polaris Shipping are the local agents for Gold Star Line.
