MOL adds Beira to Indian Ocean service

JAPANESE SEA carrier Mitsui OSK Line is set to increase capacity and include Beira in its Indian Ocean Far East East Africa service from this month.
In an announcement to FTW, Hajime Miyabe, line representative for South Africa, explained that the move resulted from market demand for a Beira route coming from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique. Colombo would also be included in the schedule, he said.
Mitsui OSK will also take the opportunity of upgrading its three 750 TEU ships presently on this service with larger vessels of a 1000 TEU capacity.
The weekly Indian Ocean liner service is operated jointly by Mitsui OSK and P&O Nedlloyd. P&O Nedlloyd also employs three 750 TEU vessels in the service.
MOL will inaugurate the new schedule with Asian Challenger, arriving in Singapore on 17 July and Beira on 6 August. The other two 1000 TEU vessels being introduced are the Caribbean Challenger and Pacific Challenger.
Transit time between Singapore and Beira is 18 days, and 21 days for the return, while transit time between Beira and Colombo is set at 16 days.
This will allow a transhipment interface with Mitsui OSK's weekly Europe service from Colombo, calling at Southampton (13 days), Antwerp (15 days), Bremerhaven (16 days) and Rotterdam (18 days).
The full schedule is Port Kelang, Singapore, Port Louis, Reunion, Tamatave, Beira, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Tanga, Colombo, Cochi, Port Kelang, Singapore. As a temporary measure however, calls to Mombasa and Port Louis are to be made fortnightly due to delays at Mombasa, said Miyabe.
BY TERRY HUTSON