I'm not sure that there's anything much to infer from the purchase by Lykes/CP of CCAL.
Both are mature, well-respected companies that have extremely capable S African management (yes, Neville, a compliment) and I for one would not expect any great changes. I'm writing this prior to seeing a press release, but If anything I wouldn't be surprised to see the CCAL vessels start calling on NE USA ports on the way up. If CCAL have any weakness, it has been lack of good southbound cargo and CP could well be able to help out there. I suppose the only loser in the deal might be King & Sons, as I imagine Lykes would want their new partners under one agency umbrella at Cotts; who knows? Doubtless all shall be revealed in due course, if not by the time this is published....
Another little snippet that come my way this week is that Helena McCabe might be considering a move from King & Sons Jhb. Whilst she hasn't been there long, I hear excellent reports and apparently she has worked wonders so far. I'm not sure if the rumour is correct, but I believe her old company, African Products, are missing her sorely and would like her to return. Doubtless she would also be a big loss to K & S, and a replacement would be problematic, particularly with the mangy mutt kenneled up in PE. I would imagine John Jones will be making a serious counter if indeed it is all true....
The international shipping community was rocked to its foundations following the shock news that Maersk and Safmarine have had no fewer than 1572 mentions in the FTW in the last two issues. I can't believe it' sobbed one hysterical subscriber, we used to get such lovely articles about Albanian customs duties and Ugandan deadfreight charges; where are they now? It's all Saf, Saf, Saf and Maersk, Maersk, Maersk. A Medite junkie was equally outraged. What gives them the right to monopolise the pages? Where are the features on MSC that we have come to love? It's discrimination, that's what it is. (Takes out onion and cries into handkerchief.) Where are the flattering pictures of our beloved Captain Sa.. (The rest is, predictably, censored....)
Maersk have by now moved to if not settled in the Safmarine building in our lovely town-down area. It's been a long time coming and the acquisition now seems like a life-time ago; in fact, I first wrote about it in Wharf Rat No. 3 - this is edition No. 41. I'm sure nobody's enamoured with the location but leases are expensive things both to get in to, and out of. Apparently all the Maersk documentation and customer service staff are to be re-employed on Safmarine employment contracts, with the sales force alone on Maersk's books. The tail wagging the dog, you might think, but I won't reveal here the reason why. Something that does intrigue me, however, is the rumour that AP Moller and Griffin are meeting behind closed doors, discussing something called Fortress Africa'. A bottle of the finest to someone who can tell me more....
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