Macs prepares for fleet upgrade

As the shipping industry faces a period of uncertainty, there are some smaller lines who believe they are well placed to ride out the storm. As niche multi-purpose operator Maritime Carrier Shipping looks back on a positive first 10 months of 2008, it is preparing for a fleet upgrade that will see the acquisition of six new vessels, the first of which will be delivered in 2010. Slightly bigger and faster than the current fleet, they are purpose-designed to meet the needs of the multi-purpose market it serves. “Last year was a good year for us,” says Macs’ Marc Frauendorf. “We grew volumes in all sectors – breakbulk, bulk, container and reefer – on all three trades on which we operate. In September we saw things tailing off and since October all bookings are significantly down.” The line was kept busy with large volumes of project cargo not only bound for South Africa – the likes of the Gautrain and World Cup-related cargo – but also for southern Africa where the mining industry and infrastructure upgrades kept volumes buoyant in 2008. “This type type of business is also moving in reduced volumes this year, the only exception being Namibia, which has not yet been affected by the recession,” says Frauendorf. In fact the Port of Walvis Bay is busier than ever, coping with cargo bound for Angola and Zambia. This thanks to the inability of Angolan ports to operate with any semblance of efficiency. According to Frauendorf, some vessels are delayed in Luanda for 30-35 days, forcing lines to divert to Walvis Bay. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, the southern African market remains a growth point for Macs, with Namibia and Mozambique regions of particular promise. The immediate challenge, says Macs’ Sylvia Johnston, is keeping rates at a reasonable level and keeping the ships full. “We review rates at the end of each calendar year and issue a new tariff. There was no rate increase this year and rates remain under pressure.” A brighter light in the generally gloomy picture is Macs’ reefer business. “We are a small player and as such we manage to keep our equipment utilised by focusing on niche customers and niche markets,” Frauendorf added.