Ro-ro feeder serves Durban-East/West Africa route

A new dedicated roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) feeder service between Durban and West/East Africa has been launched. It follows the formation of a partnership agreement by Daewoo Logistics of Korea, FWT Logistics of Japan and Durban-based KTSL, according to KTSL MD Sagie Naidoo. Two medium-sized ro-ro vessels will be utilised for this service, and Naidoo expects that there will be two sailings per month. “The port rotation will be Durban, Luanda, Tema and Lagos,” he said, “with other West African port calls on inducement.” There’s a significant advantage in the use of the medium-sized vessels, according to Naidoo, since they’re able to enter most West African ports. “And, being dedicated to the Durban-West Africa trade avoids the vessels’ capacity being taken up by cargo from other source ports. It leaves them with more space purely for SA-sourced cargo.” Naidoo also expects the service to be extended to East Africa in about three-months, with port calls planned for Dar es Salaam, Mombasa and Maputo. The first sailing is scheduled for today (April 10) with the Trust Dubai, while the second vessel, the K Y Frigg, is due to join the run from early May.