Hual extends portfolio with breakbulk capacity

HUAL'S RO-RO vessels have stuck to their scheduled calls at South African ports despite the downturn in export loads as a result of the strike at motor assembly plants throughout the country. But the line's recent efforts to target breakbulk cargo destined for Europe and Australia has nothing to do with the South African trade union action.
"I hesitate to say we are a breakbulk service," says Tony Kee of SA general ships' agency John T Rennie. "What we have been looking at is the possibility of taking on some units of cargo which we can run on board, stow and then run off at the final destination.
"It must be remembered that these are giant vessels with plenty of space
available on the South Africa-Europe and South Africa-Australia routes. The potential for ro-ro requirements on these routes is limited at present and if there is suitable cargo that can be handled in a rollable manner, we will be happy to accept it.
"Truly bulk items like steel in volume cannot be considered, but other types of cargo, even steel pipes that can be handled in unit form and which can fit onto
our Ômafi' trailers can be accepted."
Kee sees the downturn in the export of motor vehicles as a result of the strike as a worrying factor, but says the line is looking beyond that. Some 250 000 units are imported and exported through South African ports annually, and he believes volumes are set to grow.