West Africa infrastructure restricts exports

“Although we have been inundated with sea and air shipments from and into West African regions, it is an unfortunate fact that inadequate port and airport facilities still restrict and hamper efficient handling of clients’ cargo,” says Neil Robertson, owner of Robertson Freight. “To compound matters, port congestion at most of these ports has resulted in various knockon effects. The increase in port congestion surcharges and the disruption to regular liner schedules have wreaked havoc on forward planning for some of our regular exporters. “As an example, we have established a long-standing relationship with the Independent Supply Company of South Africa (Iscosa), which is actively involved with procurement and supplies to the major multinational oilfield operators in West African regions. While the market has no alternative but to grin and bear the current rate and surcharge increases, the delays and disruptions to the shipping line’s schedules have caused some undesired results. In the past we have seen a few huge projects seemingly diverted to other European or US companies who are able to offer a more regular delivery schedule. “Understandably the running costs of the rigs working these areas are astronomical, so a day’s delay in obtaining your cargo can run into hundreds of thousands of US dollars. We are however very optimistic that the substantial past and future investment by the more ‘serious’ lines servicing these ports will eventually bear fruit,” Robertson told FTW. Over the past nine years Robertson Freight has established a niche market in the West African regions and has acquired a diverse range of clients who regularly ship anything from computer equipment to huge specialised project cargo. The company specialises in project cargo into Africa, including Angola, DRC, Congo, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Tanzania, and has experienced staff. “Recently, on behalf of Iscosa and Shaft- Sinkers, we arranged for the return of 13 x 12m Open Tops and GPs containing high-value diamond mining and capital equipment from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Randfontein after completion of a threeyear contract. “Our first aim is to know and understand our clients’ business requirements so that we are able to perform as an extension of their business,” Robertson concludes.