New service provides full Africa coverage from the East

Shipping to Africa is not for the
faint-hearted – and keeping
ahead of constantly changing
regulations is one of the challenges
facing Hoëgh Autoliners, which
recently launched a Middle East,
India, Africa (MIAF) service.
When FTW interviewed senior
manager commercial department,
Fernanda de Sousa, a communiqué
had just been released by Luanda
authorities announcing that vessels
carrying used vehicles into Angola
would need to discharge in Lobito
rather than Luanda. This is part
and parcel of operating into Africa
– plenty of opportunity but with
challenges in abundance.
The line’s strategy of linking major
markets to Africa saw the launch of
its MIAF service in July this year.
The service offers monthly sailings
from Mumbai, Chennai and Colombo
to Maputo, Durban, Luanda, Lagos
and Tema as base ports, with others
en route considered on inducement.
The service also offers the possibility
of loading cargo from Japan, China
and South East Asia via transhipment
in Jebel Ali.
“In view of the enormous growth
in Angola we see this as a logical
step,” says De Sousa.
“With the MIAF service in place
we are able to potentially provide full
Africa coverage from the East,” she
told FTW.
The line can accept a range of
cargo, including high and heavy
vehicles, project cargoes and oversized
breakbulk as well as specialised
non-rolling cargo.
Hoëgh Autoliners operates
more than 50 Pure Car and Truck
Carriers in global trade systems
and carried around two million car
equivalent units last year, making
3000 port calls.