NYK launches regular SA breakbulk service

NYK LINE has confirmed a regular South African call on its monthly multi-purpose service to and from Japan.
Three V-Class vessels - the multi-purpose, 20 518 dwt tweendeckers Valeria, Verbena and Vivien - are deployed on the route serving Japan (Yokohama, Nagoya and Kobe), Singapore, East Africa for discharge (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and Beira) and Richards Bay and/or Durban to load for the Far East.
The Japan - East Africa leg is an established service which has been running for some time. We started calling at South Africa on an ad-hoc basis two years ago, Barry Christensen of agents Mitchell Cotts Maritime told FTW. After testing the waters, the line has now confirmed that it will serve South Africa on a regular basis.
And while it is committed to the ports already mentioned, it has a certain amount of flexibility and will look at other Far East ports on inducement, he said.
Granite, steel, palletised timber and general breakbulk cargoes are the South Africa products expected to fill the vessel holds.