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.