MOL upgrades frequency on Maputo – Far East service

JOY ORLEK
MITSUI OSK Lines has upgraded its service between Maputo and the Far East with the addition of a ninth vessel, the MOL Splendour, which arrives in Maputo in late May. “The service, which runs from Asia to West Africa and return, is based on a 72-day round voyage. With nine vessels that equates exactly to an 8-day frequency,” says national sales & marketing manager Iain McIntosh. “It is our intention to upgrade to a weekly frequency later this year,” he told FTW. Effective from the MOL Sassandra in early April, vessels will no longer call in Durban, which is covered by the line’s new ZAX service. Cape Town will instead be included on the eastbound schedule before Maputo as an import feeder for all international trades. “This will also provide extra reefer coverage to Asia,” he said. “It will offer an extremely fast service from Lisbon to Maputo, for example, connecting with the SAECS intermediate service in Cape Town. Transit time would be 17-19 days allowing for dwell time in Cape Town.” Vessels call Maputo, Port Louis, Singapore, Hong Kong. According to McIntosh there is growing interest in the new service from shippers, many of whom are now translating interest and intention into action and switching from Durban. “Maputo port is working well. There are no delays and as a privately run facility, there’s a flexible approach to working out problems,” he said