Ot Africa News

Ship Agency Cambiaso&Risso has taken over Carlo Sciaccaluga srl, the historic ship agency established in 1903 as a forwarding agent in Genoa port and now boasting a solid reputation in the food industry, vegetable oils and chemical sector (particularly Biodiesel), and many customers at an international level. This is another important takeover for Cambiaso&Risso Agency, which contributes to strengthening its international leadership in the maritime service sector. The agreement was signed a few days ago between Sampierdarena Olii srl - which owns Carlo Sciaccaluga srl and is part of SAAR DP SpA, owner of the largest coastal food warehouse in Genoa Port and the fastest-growing company in this sector over the last few years – and Cambiaso&Risso: it will enter into force in September 2011…

On 26 November 2009, the container ship CMA CGM Iguacu called at the Port of Hamburg as part of the expanded sailing schedule for the Nigeria Express liner service operated by the OT Africa Line (OTAL). Hamburg is included for the first time in this liner service, which links the ports of Dakar, Lagos-Apapa, Lagos-Tincan and Abidjan with the European continent. The CMA CGM Iguacu is scheduled to arrive in Lagos on 18 December 2009. The inclusion of the northern European continent only occurred in July this year. The CMA CGM Iguacu was built by the HDW shipyard in Kiel in 2006.

OT Africa Line (OTAL) has announced a number of developments to its West African Ro-Ro and container services designed to give customers access to a greater number of ports. The changes will also provide improved transit times and more frequent sailings to ensure even more extensive transport coverage of the trade to and from this region. OTAL continues to operate its established multipurpose Ro-Ro service but with the addition of a restructured improved all-round schedule called the ‘Express Service’. Four multi-purpose Ro-Ro/container vessels - Kumasi, Kintampo, Katia, and Kagoro - will be utilized to provide sailings every 11 days (previously 13 days) catering for general cargo, containers, project cargo loads, and rolling stock.

The Bolloré Maritime Division (BMD) is investing USD 5 million in a new software management system called iQ-Ship. As a group company OT Africa Line (OTAL) will benefit from this system, which is designed to enhance the quality of service provided to its customers worldwide. system. iQ-Ship will enable OTAL to simplify and automate several internal processes. This will reduce the time and costs required to execute OTAL?s commercial, logistics and financial functions and allow staff more time meeting customers' needs. OTAL's marketing manager, Rachel Bennett, said: "We were impressed by the product's depth as well as Qiva's history and proven expertise in providing state-of-the-art systems.

OT Africa Line (OTAL), the specialist West African carrier, has appointed several key figures to its UK and European based operations. Romain Berard has been appointed OTAL's African Sales Manager. Based in London, Mr. Berard will work as part of the commercial sales team. Traveling extensively throughout the African Sub-Continent, he will promote OTAL's services and build on existing relationships with the line's African agency network. Mr. Berard will be the African agents' first point of contact regarding sales strategy. Romain joins OTAL from Delmas (a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group, OTAL's parent company) where he was the U.K. Northbound Manager. Diane Mussault joins OTAL as Northbound Sales Manager. Ms. Mussault will be responsible for all northbound sales and pricing.

In response to the rising demand for specialist containers on the steadily maturing West Africa trade, OT Africa Line (OTAL) has introduced a range of 40 ft. and 40 ft. high cube refrigerated containers (reefers). These containers are a new addition to the OTAL fleet which currently comprises of 20 ft. reefers, ventilated containers, dry vans, flatracks, collapsible flatracks and open tops and 40 ft. high cubes, dry vans, flatracks, collapsible flatracks, and open tops. The new reefers will be used to transport the growing number of perishable products imported and exported by West Africa every day. OTAL's new 40 ft. and 40 ft. high cube reefers are made from muffler grade stainless steel (MGSS) and have six lashing points on each side of the internal bottom rail.

OT Africa Line is to move its operations in Antwerp from Hesse Noord Natie Terminal's Delwaide Dock (berth 702) to Churchill Dock South (berth 420) in order to increase efficiency and provide its customers with a range of additional benefits. The new berth, which will be used by OTAL and its sister company Delmas on an almost exclusive basis, is able to handle containers, RoRo, break bulk, project cargo and cars. In addition, there is a multipurpose storage warehouse suitable for cocoa covering some 64,000 cu. Vessels on OTAL's Combined and Express Service will call at Churchill Dock South every five days en route to West Africa.

OT Africa Line's presence in North West Russia and the Baltic ports has been strengthened with the appointment by the line's German agent, Ernst Glaessel GmbH, of a new sub-agent based in St Petersburg, Dealex Ltd. OTAL believes that, as a result, it has enhanced its operations throughout the region. The appointment of Dealex means that shippers in North West Russia will now have easier access to OTAL's container and break-bulk services to / from St. Petersburg and West and Central Africa. "OTAL has been looking for a representative within North West Russia for a while, especially in light of the recent growth experienced in the country's economy…

OT Africa Line (OTAL), the specialist West African shipping line, has appointed a new Spanish agent, Isamar. part of the Bolloré Group. well integrated transport organization. Founded in 1993, Isamar is a logistics company with a specific focus on maritime transport. Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Las Palmas, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia and Vigo. offices in Lisbon and Leixoes. The strengthening of OTAL's agency network in Spain is both a logistical and strategic move. Spain is an important export partner for many West African countries including: Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Mauritania and the Gambia. In addition, Spain's prime location in the Mediterranean, neighbouring both France and Portugal, makes it an important transport hub.

OT Africa Line (OTAL), the specialist West African shipping line, has undergone service schedule restructuring as from mid June of this year: 80 percent of its African port range now sees OTAL call on a weekly basis. The implementation of the OTAL-managed weekly North Africa feeder service (NFD), for example, has already created marked improvements in terms of port congestion avoidance and improved sailing frequencies for customers. The North Africa feeder service operates two 400 TEU vessels, providing a weekly service on the Dakar – Banjul – Nouakchott – Casablanca rotation. It prioritises its schedule to meet the weekly Hebdo service in Dakar…

OT Africa Line (OTAL ) is to move its port operations in Amsterdam from the Ceres Amsterdam Marine Terminal to the USA Terminal, a new deep sea terminal and multimodal distribution center operated by United Stevedores Amsterdam (USA). As of September 2002, OTAL vessels will call at the USA Terminal, which is located in the Amerikahaven within Amsterdam Westpoort. Vessels on both OTAL's weekly container service and weekly RoRo service will call at the USA Terminal every seven days en route to West Africa. The first OTAL vessel to call will be Rokia (337) on September 2,2002.

Strengthening its position as a leading player in West African shipping and logistics, OT Africa Line (OTAL) has expanded its agency network in China. United Transportation Limited (UTL), OTAL's general agents covering Hong Kong and China, will now co-ordinate all Chinese commercial and operational activities via a sub agency network managed by Chiao Feng Shipping Ltd. With headquarters in Hong Kong, Chiao Feng has strategically located offices (highlighted below) based at important regional transhipment hubs. Chiao Feng has been established for 15 years with all branches holding a Class A license issued by the Chinese Government granting authority to handle freight traffic throughout the region.

The Bollore Group has signed a contract with the aim of acquiring OT Africa Line, the British shipping line, and its landside network in Africa. The object of this move is to reinforce the Group's position in the Europe-Africa trade with the important contribution that OTAL can make, particularly in the traffic flows from the U.K., Germany and Benelux to the anglophone markets of Ghana and Nigeria. The OTAL organization will remain independent from Delmas, a Bollore Group liner shipping subsidiary, although potential economies in matters of common interest such ships and containers will be researched and evaluated. Moreover OTAL's management team will remain based in London.

OT Africa Line (OTAL) announced some changes to its North Europe – West Africa services. These take into account various factors including a slight downturn in overall trade volumes, civil unrest in certain countries and improved availability of roll-on, roll-off multi-purpose tonnage. OTAL’s RoRo service is resuming its nine day frequency utilising six vessels on a 45-day round-trip schedule. This has been made possible by the return to the service of Rokia Delmas and Rosa Delmas. Both ships have recently been employed in support of the military action in Iraq and during their absence, the service was reduced to an eleven-day frequency utilizing three RoRo vessels.