MOL helps fulfil Ngqura dream

Japanese sea carrier Mitsui
OSK Lines (MOL) has
made a number of changes
to its entire Africa service,
with a focus on developing
container cargo volumes
through the new Eastern
Cape deep-water port of
Ngqura.
“This,” said MOL
marketing manager, Iain
McIntosh, “is driven by our
big transhipment needs,
and the sheer efficiency of
the port for that function.
“Using Ngqura as our
transhipment hub, we
are fulfilling Transnet’s
objectives for the port,
while offering us the
chance to operate a new,
high-quality service
network.”
Nosipho Damasane,
Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT) chief operating
officer at the port, told
FTW: “MOL development
of these service changes
is exactly what we
are looking for in the
development of the Ngqura
terminal, namely volume
growth of transhipment
cargo from other regions
around the globe.
“We also look forward
to the growth of the
partnership to both
companies’ mutual
benefit.”
Durban, which is
currently covered by
MOL’s Asia/SA/East Coast
South America (CSW)
service on its southbound
leg, has been replaced by
Ngqura.
At the same time, the
Mozambique Zuid Africa
Service (MZX) service
will be upgraded from
10-days interval to a
weekly schedule, and,
from May 8, will call at
Durban on its port rotation
of: Singapore-Durban-
Maputo-Port Kelang-
Singapore.
MZX is also to suspend
port calls at the Indian
Ocean Islands, which
will be covered by a new
dedicated service, Indian
Ocean Islands Express
(IOX) – which, from May 17, will offer a fortnightly
service linking: Singapore-
Port Louis-Reunion-
Tamatave-Singapore.
MOL is also to set up a
new, every 21-days Angola
shuttle service (AOS) from
June 4 to cater for the
growing trade requirements
to and from Angola, and
running a service rotation
of: Ngqura-Luanda-
Ngqura.
From May 21, the line’s
South/West Africa
service (SWX) will have
a new service rotation
of: Durban-Ngqura-Cape
Town-Walvis Bay-Abidjan-
Tema-Lome-Cotonou-
Douala-Ngqura-Durban.