LYKES LINES has appointed Intermodal Africa, the ship's agency arm of Fritz Companies, as its agent in Botswana and Zimbabwe with immediate effect.
Lykes has provided a regular liner service between the United States and Southern Africa for 56 years. The appointment of Intermodal Africa as agents in Botswana and Zimbabwe will enhance Lykes' service levels to and from these countries, said Neville Bedford, Lykes vice president for Africa and Southern Asia.
Edenvale-headquartered Intermodal Africa was established in September this year as the ship's agency arm of Fritz Companies. With its totally independent status, the company also acts as agents for non-Fritz forwarding companies.
It's very costly for forwarding companies to open their own overborder offices, IA m.d. Alain Guiterrez told FTW. A lot of smaller forwarders need an independent company which can handle their needs for them, and this is where we see our niche market. Intermodal will not act as customs brokers in any country but will use the local structures.
The company has branch offices in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The Botswana and Zimbabwe branches are now appointed agents for Lykes and are headed respectively by Angus Mackay in Gaborone and Patricia Campbell in Harare.
The Lykes agreement follows hot on the heels of an agency agreement signed with Maritime Carrier Shipping for cargo moving on the Europe - SA - Botswana route.
