PIL launches South East Asia - SA service - Freight & Trading Weekly - 21 July 2000 edition -
PIL launches South East Asia - SA service |
Terry Hutson PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL Lines (PIL), one of Singapore's major shipping companies, has launched a new container service between South East Asia, South Africa and West Africa. The first ship, Kota Molek, sails from Singapore on August 7 and arrives in Durban on August 17 before going on to Cape Town and ports in West Africa. Initially four ships will be employed on a fortnightly rotation, although according to ForeShore Ships Agency, the South African agent, a weekly frequency is the ultimate intention. PIL is one of SE Asia's larger shipping lines with over 70 ships in service, mostly container but also including a number of multi purpose ships. The line operates extensively throughout South East Asia, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, the Indian sub-continent, the Gulf, Red Sea and East Africa. This is PIL's first entry to South Africa although a West African service was in operation until about 10 years ago. The four ships to be employed on the SA and West Africa service are 1000TEU geared container ships, Kota Molek, Kota Mutiara, Kota Manos and Kota Merdesa. "The important thing is that PIL owns most of its vessels, which number over 70, and only a few are chartered," said Kieran Sullivan, ForeShore's managing director. Sullivan has built up a solid core of experienced shipping people around him at ForeShore, with Louis McGregor-Langley as his right hand man and chief of operations and Kevin Moodley to run the Cape Town agency. The Johannesburg team has still to be announced. Another well known local shipping personality, Leigh Walker, formerly liner manager for Wilhelmsen Line and Barwil Durban heads up the Ghana agency of Blue Funnel Ghana, a division of Hull Blyth. extensively throughout South East Asia, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, the Indian sub-continent, the Gulf, Red Sea and East Africa. This is PIL's first entry to South Africa although a West African service was in operation until about 10 years ago. The four ships to be employed on the SA and West Africa service are 1000TEU geared container ships, Kota Molek, Kota Mutiara, Kota Manos and Kota Merdesa. "The important thing is that PIL owns most of its vessels, which number over 70, and only a few are chartered," said Kieran Sullivan, ForeShore's managing director. Sullivan has built up a solid core of experienced shipping people around him at ForeShore, with Louis McGregor-Langley as his right hand man and chief of operations and Kevin Moodley to run the Cape Town agency. The Johannesburg team has still to be announced. Another well known local shipping personality, Leigh Walker, formerly liner manager for Wilhelmsen Line and Barwil Durban, heads up the Ghana agency of Blue Funnel Ghana, a division of Hull Blyth.PIL launches South East Asia - SA service Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor To respond to this article send your email to |