Keeping the peace in Africa demands specialist expertise

GLOBAL LOGISTICS specialists Kodiak Shipping have carved a lucrative niche in the Africa market, not least through their expertise in the military field.
“The company was recently contracted to supply air transport for the deployment of the Mozambique contingent of the African Union peacekeeping
force from South Africa and Mozambique,” CEO Colin
Bowring told FTW.
And it was a project that provided plenty of challenge.
The equipment included armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and spares, land rovers, troops, supplies as well as three 6m containers for storage purposes.
“Due to the over-height and width of the APCs we had to source air equipment capable of carrying the cargo - in this case two Russian IL 76 aircraft.
“In Maputo we operated two flights a day to Bujumbura, a difficult feat to say the least as the equipment for loading at Maputo is limited,” said Bowring.
An additional constraint was the hours. Aircraft can land or take off only between 18:00 and 06:00.
But the task was completed on time and within budget, he said.
“Personal involvement by management, who have many years of military experience, brought an innovative approach to the unique problems encountered in operating widebodied aircraft with foreign crews in Africa,” he added.
Kodiak’s varied product portfolio includes clearing and forwarding, brokering military and general cargo deals and air charter.