THERE IS room on the SA-US sea trade for another contender - but it's still a tight squeeze.
The new South Atlantic Independent Line (SAIL) liner service does re-introduce the direct Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) service - and this multi-purpose attribute must be a niche that the agency, Freightmarine Shipping, will be punting .
Trade with the USA has been growing quite healthily, and most of it (in volume terms) is seafreight.
In value terms, SA's export trade to the US grew by by almost 50% in 1995 over 1994 - rising from R4,4-billion to R6,5-bn. On the import field, the 1994 total of R8,6-bn rose to R11,9-bn in 1995 - a 38% increase.
But, firmly entrenched in this sea-lane has been the SafBank service Line.
And they have all continually complained about one thing on this trade - which is about the only one where rate increases are still possible. That is its imbalance.
There is a good inward flow of sea cargo. The US is a prime source of chemicals; machinery; capital goods; transport and earthmoving equipment; agricultural products and equipment; and the like - all eminently seafreightable.
But there is only about half of these volumes in outbound traffic. And, with a lot of it being raw materials (the minerals and metals) - much of which suits the bulk tanker market - the return trip is one of those empty box legs.
But SAIL is maybe not demanding too much. They've got two ships regularly sailing the trade - but only every 28 days - so they are not overcrowding the sea-way too much. And they are also offering that combi service - for general cargo; Ro-Ro traffic (ideal for vehicles and other, big, mobile equipment); and containerised goods.
The port rotation is also good for USA/SA cargo supplies - running New Orleans-Savannah-New York-Cape Town-Durban and return to New Orleans.
Trade is also still on the increase this year, although the figures are only available for the early part of the year before the crash of the rand - and are no clear indicator of what extra cargo is likely to be available at this time of the year.
