Improvements in the
productivity of the Beira
container terminal
combined with the
introduction of through bills of
lading to hinterland destinations
have contributed to growing
volumes on Mediterranean
Shipping Company (MSC)
vessels calling on the port.
MSC currently operates four
vessels on its service from South
Africa to Mozambique and
Mombasa. The service connects
Mozambique and East Africa to
the MSC transhipment hub in
Durban.
“This service operates with
both north- and southbound
calls to allow for weekly calls
in Maputo and Beira and
fortnightly calls in Nacala,” says
Captain Roberto del Vecchio,
chairman of MSC Mozambique.
Service levels through
Beira have improved due to a
combination of investment by
Cornelder in new gantry cranes
and other equipment in the port
and the opening of an MSC
container yard.
“Landside logistics remain
a major challenge in ports like
Beira and Nacala for both local
cargo and for containers moving
in transit to the hinterland
countries of Malawi, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
“The construction of our
container depot in Beira
is a first step in providing
our customers with a more
comprehensive logistic solution,”
says Del Vecchio.
Having its own container
depot in Beira allows MSC
to take control of the care of
the customer throughout the
logistics chain, adds Vinod
Kunnummal, regional manager
of MSC.
A similar facility is to be built
in Nacala.
According to Kunnummal
the introduction of through
bills of lading to inland
destinations is another part of
the “comprehensive logistics
solution” being offered by the
line.
“With offices in Zimbabwe
and Zambia we are now able to
offer a full door-to-door service.
We can take a container from
Shanghai to the door of an
importer in Harare or Lusaka,
for example.
“MSC has its own in-house
clearing agents, and we work
in partnership with leading
trucking companies to provide
the road freight,” he says.
Containers are also being
transhipped by rail.
MSC offices in the
neighbouring countries take
responsibility for the movement
of the cargo until it is handed
over to the client.
Kunnummal says the news
that the port of Beira is
performing better than ever is
encouraging increasing numbers
of importers and exporters to
make use of the gateway.
There is a positive spin-off for
the line.
“Despite the floods that hit
Mozambique earlier in the year the
market has managed to maintain
a sustained growth, especially in
imports,” says Del Vecchio.
MSC is continuing to invest
in Mozambique. “This year we
completed the refurbishment
of our offices in Beira and the
construction of our new offices in
Nacala,” he says.
CAPTION
The Port of Beira ... improved productivity.
