Maruba to add a second vessel on WAX service

Following the recent launch by Maruba of its WAX service (Far East-South Africa-West Africa) in partnership with China Shipping and Hapag Lloyd, the line will shortly introduce a second vessel on the route. That’s the word from Captain Richard Brook-Hart, director of Alpha Shipping, agents for Maruba S.C.A. The first vessel to call at West Africa was the 2100 teu Maruba Tango. Encouraged by the demand for goods in West Africa from both China and South Africa, Maruba has taken the decision to upgrade the service. “South Africa’s geographical position has created an opportunity for shipping lines to introduce a call at Durban and supplement the China/ West Africa trade with growing volumes from South Africa to West Africa,” said Brook- Hart. “The biggest market is oil-rich Nigeria, followed by Ghana, where Chinese and South African goods are displacing the traditional trade from Europe,” he added. “While South Africa mainly exports commodities to the Far East, West Africa represents a growing market for manufactured goods, which is not just good news for the shipping lines but also for the South African economy as a whole. A bigger demand for manufactured goods translates into more employment opportunities and other accompanying benefits and spinoffs,” Brook-Hart told FTW. Maruba is private company based in Argentina and has been operating since 1962. It offers both container and bulk services worldwide.