MOL SA to open in February next year

THE JAPANESE sea carrier, Mitsui OSK Line, has confirmed its intention to create its own agency structure in Southern Africa (FTW June 26, 1998), according to newly-appointed m.d. Dave Giraudeau.
This follows an amicable split from the previous agency relationship with Ellerman & Bucknall in SA. Mitsui OSK Lines SA has already been registered, and is expected to start operating from February 1 next year.
Giraudeau, meantime, will maintain a dual role until year end - retaining his m.d. position with E&B, although officially appointed by Mitsui from August 1.
Heading up the new company, he will report through to MOL chairman, Hidehiro Harada (also chairman of MOL Europe) in London. The other directors are Chris Bourne (also m.d. of MOL Europe, and based in London) and Hitoshi Okada, senior representative of MOL (Southern Africa) based in Cape Town.
We are pleased that the staff from E&B will be transferred into the new organisation, said Giraudeau, and that our clients and service partners will continue to deal with the same people with whom they have established a working relationship.
Mitsui will have its SA head office in Cape Town, branch offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London, and agents in the likes of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Beira, Mozambique.
The disengagement process (from E&B) is proceeding smoothly. said Giraudeau, and in an orderly fashion.
A new computer system is being installed, and will replace the current system used by E&B - with both systems being Y2K compliant, and operating the proven Mitsui system recently introduced into Europe, with minor regional modifications.
The new system will be supervised till year end by an IT (information technology) specialist from the Tokyo head office. This will ensure a successful conversion, said Giraudeau.