... and brings on dedicated Islands relay vessel
GLOBAL CONTAINER Lines has added a direct Zanzibar call to its East Africa service with immediate effect.
The port was previously served on a relay basis.
The line is delighted with the upturn in volumes on the route, prompted largely by the tourism industry which is increasingly looking to South Africa rather than its traditional markets as a supply source.
The multi-purpose service will maintain a 10-day frequency calling at Durban, Maputo, Beira, Nacala, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.
In addition, a dedicated vessel has been brought into service loading cargo
in Mombasa for Moroni, Mayotte, Mutsamudu and Tanga every 10 days.
This will be a dedicated and scheduled 10-day call, not subject to inducement. "We've been able to prove to shippers that we can move their cargo from Durban to Comores with assured delivery dates," GCL line representative based in Johannesburg, Doug Kennedy told FTW.
There's an additional benefit in the size of the relay vessel which is able to berth alongside the port and is self-geared and therefore able to discharge cargo independently of port infrastructure. "This makes it quicker and safer," says Kennedy.
As volumes continue to grow, GCL has hinted at further service upgrades in the near future, with the service feeding into GCL's global strategy connecting with India, Pakistan and the Persian Gulf.
