ALAN PEAT THE SOUTH American shipping line Maruba – on the Far East-SA-East Coast South America (ECSA) trade – has a new name as agents in SA. Alpha Shipping has now taken the service over from Austral Maritime, as that business ceased operation from January. But it’s a change of name only, said Alpha MD Richard Brook-Hart – with Alpha holding the SA agency for Maruba since its service started last July, but having placed a sub-agency with Austral Maritime. However, there’s no real change of name in the people now operating the agency under the Alpha banner. “When Austral Maritime lost its main agency for Mer Austral, they had to close their doors,” said Brook-Hart. “But we were able to take over all their staff.”
