Macs adds capacity to cope with escalating demand

MACS Maritime Carrier
Shipping is increasing
capacity for the project cargo
sector with several vessels on order
and due to join the fleet next year.
The carrier, which has offered a
regular liner service between South
Africa and Europe for 30 years,
also represents sister company
GAL in South Africa, which offers
a similar service from the US Gulf.
Lars M Greiner, Macs project
manager southern Africa, told
FTW that the current expansion of
the Macs fleet had been necessary
as the project cargo industry had
seen tremendous growth in recent
years. “We wish to continue
offering sailings every 10 days so
that if you miss one vessel, the next
one is close behind. This keeps
the project running smoothly and
reduces the problem of leaving
cargo waiting at destination for
long periods.”
According to Greiner, moves
have also been made to upgrade
the GAL fleet with the inclusion of
more modern tonnage. “Less than
two years ago Macs purchased a
feeder vessel, the Black Rhino,
which gives us the ability to carry
specialised cargoes beyond our
normal ports and to get into some
of the smaller East and West
African ports with limited draught.
This year the Black Rhino has
made calls at Cabinda and Soyo as
well as Beira.”
In South Africa there has been a
lot of development, with many of
the mining houses extending their
reach into Africa, says Greiner. As
this develops and continues, the
project industry will grow on the
back of this.”
Peter Böckels, Macs project
manager for Europe, says the
ordering of ships is based on
meeting market demands. “The
newly developed ships have
increased market-orientated lifting
capacities as the industry is growing
world wide.”
He says with more wind energy
installations worldwide along with
the mining industry growth, the
sector requires bigger volumes per
shipment as heavier components are
transported. He further points out
that Macs has already played a key
role in many large and well-known
South African projects such as the
building of the Columbus smelter
and the BHP Hillside Smelter, with
the more recent Ambatovy project
in Madagascar another in which
Macs participated.
Both Böckels and Greiner
agree that internationally units are
becoming larger and more complex,
requiring specialised vessels to be
developed in line with this. There’s
also an increased need for dedicated
services and personnel to manage
these moves.
“In South Africa we are currently
leading the way in terms of mining
technology development,” says
Greiner. “However, this is not yet
translating into the development of
the related transport for this, and we
are constantly looking for ways to
improve this to ensure the country
does not risk being left further
behind.”
He says increasingly it is taken for
granted that the transport industry
is able to move whatever cargo
comes its way. “The skills shortage
in South Africa however needs to
be addressed if we are to keep pace
with cargo developments.”