ÔAntarctic centre to be established in CT before the year is outÕ
Ray Smuts
AS THE Russian research vessel Akademik Fedorov set sail from Cape Town for the Antarctic last week, Meihuizen InternationalÕs Peter Meihuizen and Gerald Hagemann were no doubt expressing another silent thank you for realising timeously there is money in niche marketing - even in ice.
Starting from humble beginnings with the Antarctic logistics for South Africa more than a decade ago - then a completely new sphere for Meihuizen - the company has long been acutely aware of the need to develop niche markets in addition to the normal range of services offered by clearing and forwarding agents.
Today, Cape Town-based Meihuizen International is the acknowledged Antarctic market leader with its own separate division under Maretha Viljoen, specialising in a complete logistical support service for international research institutes, ship owners and managers.
Countries represented include South Africa, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Holland, Germany and India, accounting for about 12% of Meihuzen InternationalÕs Cape Town business which turns over around R150 millon a year in total.
So confident is the company in the economic future of the Antarctic, now starting to experience the birth of eco-tourism - the Fedorov departed with its first six tourists paying US$60 a day for the 55-day voyage - that it is intent on establishing an Antarctic Centre in the Mother City before the year is out.
ÒCape Town is in the unique position to provide a complete logistical support to members of the Antarctic community as a last port of call and also modern facilities along with services and supplies at highly competitve prices,Ó says Hagemann.
The Meihuizen-run centre will co-ordinate the efforts of all participating southbound Antarctic teams, enabling them to conduct expeditions in the most cost-effective manner.
Hagemann believes that in addition to those countries already using Cape Town as a base, Chinese and Japanese research vessels could well also become a familiar sight in Duncan Dock.
Meihuizen says he has no doubt that all countries using Cape Town will subscribe to the Antarctic Centre concept, likely to include facilities such as warehousing, office accommodation and refurbishing of Antarctic equipment in addition to the general co-ordinating function.
One of the important tasks to be attended to by the Akademik Fedorov team will be to make a start with re-establishing and refurbishing the Ôair bridgeÕ between Cape Town and the Russian Novolasarevskaya station - last used in 1992 - to international standards.
