New MIA F service boosts Middle East/India coverage

In line with its strategy to link major markets to Africa, Norwegian ro ro carrier Hoëgh Autoliners has launched a Middle East, India, Africa service (MIAF) offering monthly sailings from Mumbai, Chennai and Colombo to Maputo, Durban, Luanda, Lagos and Tema. Other ports en-route will be considered on inducement. “In 2008 we introduced our FEME (Far East Middle East) service,” sales and marketing manager Carol Graham told FTW. “This monthly service is now well established and caters for cargo from Japan, China and Singapore to the Middle East, Iran, Iraq and East Africa.” With the MIAF service now in place, the line offers a monthly frequency from India and the Middle East direct to Southern and Western Africa as well as monthly inbound sailings via transhipment in Jebel Ali from Japan, China and South East Asia. “This provides full Africa coverage from the East,” says Graham. “We are well known in West Africa and Southern Africa for our inbound ro ro services from Europe and the US East Coast. These recently established regular trade routes open up new cargo possibilities for us and further enhance our position in Africa.” Hoegh Autoliners moves all types of vehicles, including high and heavy vehicles, project cargoes and over-sized breakbulk and specialised non rolling cargo. The company operates approximately 50 Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) in global trade systems. Its main customers are major manufacturers of new cars, heavy machinery and rolling stock as well as second hand vehicles. The line carried around two million car equivalent units (CEU) last year, making 3000 port calls. Based in Oslo, it has a global network of 30 subsidiaries and representative offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.