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.