New multi-purpose service links NWC-E Africa

Growing opportunities in the oil and gas sector have motivated the launch of a new East Africa Service by MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping and Universal Africa Lines (UAL). According to a MACS spokesman, there’s been growing demand in the region thanks to several new projects – and with this in mind the carriers have announced a joint multipurpose service from the North West Continent to East Africa. The service will cater for containers, breakbulk,

project cargo, heavy lifts and neobulk cargoes. The first sailing, the Red

Cedar, departed Antwerp on April 25 and the second sailing, the Green Mountain,

is scheduled for May 23. “It will be a monthly sailing and ports of call will be Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg with additional ports served subject to inducement. In East Africa ports of call will be Nacala and Pemba subject to inducement.” The spokesman said subject to demand the service would be extended to other East African ports. There were several challenges, he said, ranging from berthing delays and cargo handling facilities to long and expensive sea voyages from Europe to East Africa, but these were not insurmountable, he added.