NileDutch celebrates a decade in Cape Town

NileDutch has been on a steady growth chart since the company expanded beyond its Europe-West Africa services into Cape Town a decade ago. “It was a landmark event for us to move out of Europe. Previously we operated only between Europe and West Africa,” said managing director Jan-Willem de Braal. The reason for the move was to cater for growing volumes from South Africa into Angola. “Routes opened since then at the request of our customers include South America (Buenos Aires, Sao Francisco do Sul, Santos and Rio de Janeiro) to West Africa (Pointe Noire and Luanda); Europe Express (9-day service calling directly at Antwerp, Le Havre, Leixoes, Lisbon, Pointe Noire, Luanda and Lobito); Far East-South and West Africa (12-day service calling at Xingang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Pointe Noire, Luanda and Namibe); and SWAX, a weekly service between China through Port Klang and Durban to Lagos, Cotonou, Lomé, and Tema on the West Coast.” SWAX is provided in cooperation with NYK, CSCL and Hapag Lloyd. A dedicated NileDutch feeder service runs between its Pointe Noire hub and Matadi, Boma, Banana, Libreville, Apapa and Douala on the West Coast. De Braal is confident that volumes and demand will continue to grow. “There is tremendous economic growth, we see interesting political developments, and the port facilities are getting better,” he says. Cargo that is moving includes commodities such as cotton, cocoa, timber and logs out of West Africa, while an hotel building boom along the West Coast has created opportunities for Western Cape suppliers of furniture, fittings, linen, kitchens and other supplies. NileDutch has the flexibility to expand to meet demand as all present fleet are chartered. They range from 2 500 to 3 500 TEUs, and all are geared.