Multi-Trade shipowner Safmarine has commenced a regular, multi-purpose vessel (MPV) service between Asia and West Africa.
Greg Ulicki, Safmarine's MPV executive said in a statement: "We have used the positioning voyages of our brand new, Chinese-built, Safmarine Angela, Safmarine Andisa 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 kicked off with the return of the Safmarine Akwaba from Africa to Asia full of eastbound cargo. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Singapore on July 9 and thereafter call at the Chinese port of Zhangjiagang on July 16. From there the ship will head for Xingang (Tianjin) and, as of July 22, it will begin the monthly service to West Africa.
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. The transit time from Xingang port to Matadi will be approximately 27 days.
Inducement calls at East African ports and additional Asian load port calls will also be scheduled to meet customer needs. "The key to high customer demand for this service has been the ability for us to provide the flexibility of loading with us cargo of any shape, size and weight," said Verner Hammeken, MPV manager for Safmarine in China.
"Our multi-purpose ships are equipped with cranes capable of loading, carrying and offloading commodities in bulk, out-of-gauge or project cargo, heavy lift and also containers with special cargo (such as reefers) into the most challenging African destinations. With so many infrastructure projects underway in West Africa this multi-purpose offering gives us a real edge."
In a related development, a fourth vessel to be delivered on long-term charter to the shipping company, the 470-TEU Safmarine Andisa's sister ship to the Safmarine Angela has been named at the start of July at the Tianjin Xingang Yard in China.
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