Weekly service unaffected THE SOUTHERN Africa Europe Container Service (SAECS) has decided to operate its weekly named day service with six vessels instead of seven in view of the short-term downturn in the SA economy resulting in reduced cargo flows between Europe and Southern Africa.
The situation will be reviewed later this year prior to the start of the SA fruit season.
Following a routine drydocking of the City of Cape Town, the vessel will be withdrawn from the fleet for the time being.
Port rotation on the SA coast will be amended in two stages. From the SA Waterberg voyage 079 which was due in SA on August 5, discharge and loading will take place at Port Elizabeth during one port call. From the Heemskerck voyage 083 which is expected in SA on September 2, discharge and loading will take place in Cape Town during one port call.
Vessels will then call once only for discharge and loading at all SA ports in the following rotation: PE, Durban and Cape Town.
There is a fine balance between running seven ships slowly and six ships quickly, according to a SAECS spokesman, who stressed that the weekly frequency would not be affected. On the European coast, at the likes of Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre, discharge and loading is accomplished in one port call.
