THE SA - Europe Container Service has introduced an innovative scheme which significantly reduces transit times for dry cargo moving from Belgium.
The cargo can now be barged from Antwerp to Rotterdam for loading on SAECS vessels.
Dry cargo traditionally moved via Zeebrugge.
The transit time improvement to South African ports using the barging offer to Rotterdam is remarkable, says Bill Leader, national sales manager of P&O Nedlloyd (SA), a major player in the consortium (See table).
Cargo will be received by the lines at their Antwerp terminals on a daily basis, with a cut-off time of 16h00 on Fridays to meet the SAECS vessel sailing from Rotterdam on Tuesdays.
The service commenced with the sailing of the Sederberg from Rotterdam on January 13.
The new service also enables the lines to offer Belgian exporters the option of loading in either Rotterdam or Zeebrugge, Leader added.
