PAN AFRICA Line is set to double frequency on its South Africa - West Africa service. Having completed eight sailings since its launch in October last year, the line believes it is now ready to move from a monthly to a fortnightly frequency.
That's the word from Rotterdam-based chairman and chief executive officer Roger Jungblut who told FTW in Johannesburg last week that the South Africa - West Africa leg would play an important role in the line's global plans.
PAL's 6000-9000 ton multi-purpose vessels with own gear serve Durban; Cape Town; Angola (Lobito, Luanda, Soyo, Cabinda); Gabon (Port Gentil), Cameroon (Douala), Nigeria (Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt); Ghana (Tema, Takoradi) and Equatorial Guinea (Malabo); with other ports on inducement.
The line is part of the Universal Africa Lines/ Holland Maritime Transport Shipping (HMT) Group which boasts 25 years of experience in West Africa trade.
HMT is the management company while UAL operates several services on the West Africa - Europe and US routes.
South Africa has gained competitive advantage as an import source compared to Europe and the United States, says Jungblut, creating additional demand for seafreight services.
We have created a cargo package to West Africa and would like to add extra value to that package. Part of this will be the development of Durban as a transhipment hub for cargo moving from the Far East and India.
We have agents in these regions and would like to use existing lines to move cargo into Durban, with transhipment to final destination in West Africa on our own bills of lading.
Local agents Seaclad Maritime are also upbeat about developments in the region. The market has responded positively to the entry of PAL and we believe that it could sustain a second monthly sailing, said Seaclad's Alan Schoeman.
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