Heavylift vessel enters Moz service

A MOZAMBIQUE shipping line is putting a specialist heavylift and multipurpose project vessel on the East Africa coast serving the SA, Mozambique and East African coastal waters. This month sees Debala Mozambique Line launch the Nikhil on the service - a vessel acquired through the Netherlands-Mozambique Shipping Project (NED-MOC), with funding from SENTER, the agency of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. She boasts two 180-metric ton, fixed derricks, and has a shallow laden draught of 5.56-metres. “The MV Nikhil is perfect for the conditions experienced in South and East Africa, says “Dip” S. Dipankar, managing director of the Mozambique-based Debala Shipping Limitada. The new vessel augments the line’s existing inter-Mozambique port service, using the Mama Salima. “This project has been in the making for some two years,” said Captain Brian Hawkins of Mainport Africa Shipping, agents for Debala in South Africa, “and this vessel will make the difference for East African projects.” Mainport Africa has already been in negotiation with major project shippers for the area and the support levels are encouraging, according to Hawkins. “Those derricks make the difference and open up the smaller coastal ports to projects and breakbulk shipments of significant size, the vessel having a deadweight of 2 811-mt.” The last decade has seen SA project companies making significant inroads into Africa, according to Peter Evans, Mainport partner, with heavylift demand becoming more and more prevalent. “Foreign companies are also using RSA as a springboard into Africa,” he said “and sees them setting up project support operations in the country.