Ready for Beira traffic growth

Transport logistics are in place to serve an expected growth in traffic through the port of Beira following the completion of a R430-million dredging project which could see Panamax-sized vessels calling, says Rob Follett- Smith of Alro Shipping. Alro Shipping, which has its headquarters in Harare, is the agent for the Messina and MOL and also operates a fleet of over 70 long-haul trucks through its sister company, Alro Transport. “Generally, Beira is headed for better days. It will be able to take bigger vessels (60 000 tons), and we should see more frequent calls,” he says. More direct calls on the port will help reduce costs for Zimbabwean importers and exporters, he adds. Freight is currently being carried by road from Durban because of the high costs and delays of transit freight services into Beira. Beira is, he believes, well positioned to serve the Zimbabwean and Zambian copper exports, as well as imports into the region. More investment is, however, needed. Volumes through Beira are expected to grow. “Whatever the authorities say, there is a need for more equipment. Otherwise, there will be bottlenecks and delays,” he says. Alro, which has been operating on the Beira corridor for some time, is ready to handle the extra volumes. “We are one of the few freight companies recognised on the Mozambique route, and have the vehicles available,” he says. With rates “tight” due to adequate road freight capacity being available on the routes serving Zimbabwe, Alro Shipping is adding value through its clearing and forwarding arm, as well as its partnership with Leo Shipping in Gauteng. Leo’s warehouses are used to store and containerise cotton and tobacco exports, in addition to other import and export cargo through South Africa. Alro runs more than 200 loads a month from South Africa into Zimbabwe, neighbouring Zambia and as far as Zaire. Vehicles travel a circular route, which could start in Cape Town and go up through the different countries, discharging and picking up loads along the way. It has its own fleet of low bed trailers to carry heavy equipment for the mines.