Sisters combine forces on Indian Ocean route

IN A further restructuring of its Indian Ocean service (IOX) between the Middle East, India, Pakistan and East Africa, Safmarine will enter into an agreement with sister company Maersk Sealand from next month (August) to offer a four-vessel string between Salalah and East Africa. The Safmarine Shebeli is one of four vessels to be deployed on the service. South Africa-bound cargo will be on-carried by the new Unifeeder joint venture between Safmarine and Unicorn Line. “The restructured IOX is seen as the next phase in making Salalah the central hub for Safmarine’s services to and from East Africa, enhancing links with our East Africa Express and Simba services,” said Rudi Labeau, Safmarine’s lines executive. “Rationalising the number of Group ships operating in the region can be seen as a sensible response to alleviating berth congestion at Indian and East African ports,” he said. The new service promises faster transit times, for example Nhava Sheva - Durban down from 15 to 12 days and Karachi - Durban from 24 to 19 days. Details of port rotation will be revealed shortly.