New express service on SA-Luanda route

This month (August) sees the launch of an express breakbulk intermodal service from South Africa to Luanda, routed through the port of Walvis Bay. A joint venture marketed by RB Freight Management, the service is in response to growing congestion in the port of Luanda and the Santa Clara border post into Angola. “The new service will be much more cost-effective than trucking options on offer and will save on transit time through the border post for food and project cargo,” RB Freight Management managing director Richard Barry told FTW. All cargo will be transported from Durban and Gauteng via the Trans Kalahari Corridor to Walvis Bay and from there it will move by sea to Luanda. “The total transit time will be around 16 days to the quayside in Luanda – and this includes cargo loading ex works, trucking into Walvis Bay, cargo inspection, loading of cargo onto the vessel, documentation processing and four days’ steaming time to Luanda,” Barry said. The joint venture project harnesses a team of professional partners who include Sithembekile Transport for the trucking leg to Walvis Bay, Manica Group Namibia as the appointed Walvis Bay agents, and shipping line Angolink. Sithembekile managing director Coenraad Strauss, whose family has been involved in the trucking business for more than 30 years, specialises in cross-border transport. The Manica Group Namibia, along with an RB Freight staff member, will take delivery of the cargo in a quayside bonded facility to avoid double handling from an external warehouse. Manica will also be responsible for booking the floor inspection before loading the vessel, passing the customs and port documents and providing the group’s stevedoring services. Angolink director Gerald Roux believes that shippers and consignees can save four to six weeks off the normal transit time offered by conventional container lines because the vessel does not need to anchor for any length of time.