We want to get involved in terminal operations and other related services in SA, says chief MAERSK LINE is to enter the SA - South America trade.
From May this year, it will provide one of the vessels in the Good Hope Express service which offers a weekly frequency on the Far East - South Africa - South America route.
The line, which has until now slot-chartered space on GEX for cargo between South Africa and the Far East, is now in a position to offer SA - South America as well as Far East - South America connections.
While Maersk is not a fully-fledged member of GEX, it will continue to slot charter space from other GEX members, who will in turn slot-charter on Maersk's vessel. The arrangement will increase the number of Far East slots available to Maersk.
In South Africa for the first time last week to make the announcement and to welcome the arrival in Durban of the first vessel in Maersk's SA - Europe service, was Copenhagen-based liner department executive vice president, Knud Erik Moller Nielsen.
By providing our own vessel we will not only promote the Maersk name, but will get access from South Africa to South America, an area in which we are already heavily involved. He told FTW that Maersk had big expansion plans for South Africa not only in terms of service patterns, but also for investment in related services.
We like to participate in industries related to shipping and be good citizens in the countries in which we operate. We hope there will be opportunities for terminal operations, as we are doing in many parts around the world where we operate 25 terminals. We also operate 18 trucking companies and 50 consolidation facilities, areas in which we could become involved in South Africa. In terms of future services, Maersk has a big presence in the Middle East, India and Pakistan, and this could be the next route it opens for SA shippers, he said.
By Joy Orlek
