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Durban, which is currently covered by MOL’s Asia/SA/East Coast South America (CSW) service on its southbound leg, has been replaced by Ngqura.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.
