Safmarine enters the Asia-West Africa breakbulk and project cargo trade

Multi-trade shipowner Safmarine has commenced a regular, multi-purpose vessel (MPV) service between Asia and West Africa.

Greg Ulicki, Safmarine’s MPV Executive commented, ?e have used the positioning voyages of our brand new, Chinese-built, Safmarine Angela, Safmarine Anitaand, and Safmarine Akwaba into Europe to determine if there is a demand by our customers on this trade. Based on our success we have decided to open up a monthly service and we will flexibly deploy our assets in order to serve our customer’s needs on this trade.”

The new service commenced with the return of the Safmarine Akwaba from Africa to Asia full of eastbound cargo that is scheduled to arrive in Singapore on July 9, and thereafter at Zhangjiagang on July 16.

From there the ship will head for Xingang (Tianjin) and as of July 22, will commence the monthly service that will offer fast transits directly into West Africa. As an example, the transit time from this Chinese port to Matadi will be approximately 27 days.

Major West African ports that will be served include Namibe, Lobito, Luanda, Pointe Noire, Libreville, Douala, Malabo, Sao Tome, Durban, Lome, Tema, Takoradi, Abidjan and San Pedro.

Inducement calls at East African ports and additional Asian load port call will also be scheduled to meet customer needs.

To date a variety of cargoes have been transported from Asia to West Africa, including four locomotives of 100 tonnes each for Angola Railways.

A fourth vessel to be delivered on long term charter to the shipping company, Safmarine Andisa, was named July 1, 2008, in the presence of dignitaries and Safmarine guests together with guests from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the Tianjin Xingang Yard, China.<Korea Shipping Gazette>