UAl launches East Africa service

Universal Africa Lines (UAL) is set to launch a new service into East Africa in early August, according to Angelo Manzoni, chief operation officer for UAL-SA. The first port of call will be Pemba in Mozambique, with Nacala to follow soon after. “We’re then looking at Mtwara in Tanzania, with calls due to start in mid-September, as soon as the initial service is consolidated,” Manzoni told FTW. The vessel on the trade will be the own-geared UAL Cyprus, a multi-purpose vessel capable of carrying breakbulk, out-of-gauge project cargo, heavy lift and containers. The service is designed o extend the connecting services from the US, West Africa and SA into the East African markets, and will focus on the line’s niche market in the oil and gas industry. “The strategy is to return the vessel back into Durban, Cape Town and onto West Africa, subject to cargo levels,” Manzoni added.