South Africa Service News

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said it has adjusted coverage on its South Africa service with the introduction of a weekly direct call at Hazira, in addition to Nhava and Mundra. MSC’s updated India-South Africa service port rotation is as follows: Salalah - Jebel Ali - Bin Qasim - Mundra - Nhava Sheva - HAZIRA - Colombo - Port Louis - Durban - Coega - Salalah. The South Africa service operates with six vessels with vessel capacity of up to 5,400 TEU. The first MSC vessel to call Hazira will be MSC Valencia IZ 611, expected to arrive April 9, 2016.

Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co SA has expanded the port rotation of its India-South Africa service by introducing a direct call at Hazira, a privately-operated cargo complex on India’s west coast, in an attempt to pick up additional hinterland cargo. Hazira Port, which is about 120 nautical miles north of JNPT, is operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, India’s biggest port infrastructure developer. "MSC would like to inform customers that we have strengthened our coverage on our South Africa service with the introduction of a weekly direct call at Hazira in addition to Nhava and Mundra," says a statement from the company. The South Africa service, operates with six vessels with vessel capacity of up to 5,400 TEU.

CMA CGM announced the reshuffling of its services on the ASIA-South Africa and Mozambique trades in partnership with Maersk Line (ML). •    New SHAKA2: A service jointly operated by CMA CGM and Maersk Line with 8 vessels of 6,500Teus. The rotation includes: Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Louis, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Ngqura, Port Louis, Singapore, Nansha New Port. •    New MOZEX2: A service jointly operated by CMA CGM and MAERSK Line with 7 vessels of 2,200Teus. The rotation will include Tanjung Pelepas, Port Kelang, Pointe Des Galets, Toamasina, Maputo, Beira, Nacala, Port Louis. These two new services will replace the current Shaka and Mozex services operated by CMA CGM.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) President: Koichi Muto has announced an improvement of the Asia-South Africa container traffic network with the following changes aimed to meet customer needs by providing direct services and contimuous port coverage. Opening of the new route "ASA" linking Central and South China, Taiwan, South East Asia and South Africa starting on 8th April 2012. MOL will offer a weekly service by joining the existing ASA service operated by Kline (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) and PIL (Pacific International Lines).

TOKYO—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. MOL will meet customer needs by providing high-quality direct services and by providing variety of port coverage continuously. MOL will join  new Asia and South Africa Service (ASA). Opening of the new route, linking Central and South China, Taiwan, South East Asia and South Africa, will start on April 8, 2012. MOL will offer a weekly service by joining the existing ASA service, operated by Kline (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) and PIL (Pacific International Lines). The service will be operated by 8 vessels, and MOL will provide one ship (MV MOL DELIGHT). This service will offer direct inbound and outbound service between Central China, Taiwan and the South Africa region and strengthen the existing network in South Africa (Durban and Cape Town).

Hapag-Lloyd, which has so far focused mainly on East-West services, is expanding its African network by starting a service to South Africa in mid-October. “The southern and west regions of Africa represent an attractive market for container transport with considerable development potential. We will thus be serving all five continents for the first time in our company’s history,” commented Adolf Adrion, executive board member of Hapag-Lloyd AG, with reference to the start of a liner service linking Northern Europe with ports in South and West Africa. A total of four ships capable of carrying approx. 1,200 standard containers (TEU) and equipped with 200 reefer plugs will be deployed in the new fortnightly service.