Lykes strengthens East Africa coverage

Alan Peat THE TRADE between North America and Africa is growing rapidly, according to Tony Bruno, senior vice-president of Lykes Lines, as his company adds an extra port of call to its "East Coast Loop" service, appoints another line to serve the SA-East Africa link, and appoints new agents in East Africa. The line has added Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic as a port of call on its North America-Africa service, signed a deal with Global Container Lines to carry cargo between SA and East African ports and appointed African Liner Agencies as agents in East Africa. The new call in the Dominican Republic opens three markets: Canada and the U.S. East Coast to the Dominican Republic; Canada to Mexico; Mexico, Caribbean and Central America to Africa via Rio Haina. African Liner Agencies has nine offices throughout East Africa including Mombasa and Nairobi, Kenya; Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania; and Kampala, Uganda. "We already offered transhipment to and from East African ports," said Bruno, "but our arrangement with Global Container Lines means we have improved space and frequency on the multi-purpose service in East Africa - covering Durban and Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda." The full port rotation is: Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Rio Haina, Dakar, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, Hamilton (summer months only). Other ports are serviced on inducement.