New shipping service on Europe-SA route

In these days of belttightening it’s reassuring when there is news of another shipping service being introduced between Europe and South Africa. The newcomer in this instance is the UAL Alliance operating as Universal Africa Lines (UAL). UAL is known particularly for its liner services between Europe and West Africa, with the company specialising mainly in the oil and gas industry, including to Angola. UAL also operates similar services between the United States Gulf region and the West African region as well as from South America. The growing attraction of South Africa as an area with excellent logistic capability and efficient port and land-based infrastructure facilities, in addition to its location close to the West African oil-bearing regions, is one of the determining factors in UAL’s decision to expand into South Africa, says Haakon Røstad, managing director of Universal Africa Lines. The UAL Alliance includes Dutch-based Universal Africa Lines, HMT International Shipping & Forwarding of the Netherlands, US-based Consolidated Steamship Agency (CSA) and the KS Oil Centre in Equatorial Guinea. These companies have combined to provide a comprehensive logistic service for Africa’s expanding oil and gas industry. The group operates a fleet of 17 modern cargo ships – most of them heavylift vessels with lift capability of up to 250t cranes, two feeder vessels, a coaster and a couple of landing craft – the latter to serve difficult landing places in West Africa. The group focuses largely on long-term intra- Africa trade, in particular with the oil industry, and sees South Africa as a future growth point. UAL’s ships carry a variety of general and project cargo ranging from oil rig parts and equipment to pipes, cement, containers and even refrigerated products. The UAL Alliance is based in Rotterdam under the leadership of Roger Jungblut. In South Africa Røstad is based in Cape Town as the South African MD, with Ulrik Fischer appointed as general manager and based in Johannesburg while Durban-headquartered Seaclad Maritime will take care of all local ships agency business for UAL Alliance.