JAPAN’S Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), which will be represented by Manica Logistics & Agents in Namibia, has announced a new direct service to the Port of Walvis Bay.
According to a press release by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), the service will be known as the Indian Ocean Islands, South Africa, West Africa Dedicated Container Service.
The first vessel on this service is to depart Singapore on May 8, and will arrive at Walvis Bay about ten days later.
‘We investigated the current and likely future trade movements, and considered what would be the most beneficial for our clients,’ said MOL General Manager TK Konishi.
‘With these changes, we can provide many service routes between West Africa and several areas in the world. We are very confident we will continue to offer a competitive and efficient service to our clients, and continue our longstanding role as a major supporter of trade growth in the region through our West Africa trade services.’
According to the WBCG statement, this service provides an ideal opportunity for the shipment of minerals from the Zambian Copperbelt through Walvis Bay, along the Trans-Caprivi Corridor to the international markets.
‘This is a clear sign that confidence in utilising the Walvis Bay Corridors, by Angola, Botswana, DRC, Gauteng, Zambia and Zimbabwe, through Walvis Bay has grown in the past ten years with figures that have been recorded at more than 55 000 tonnes along the Walvis Bay Corridors,’ the statement read.
With more direct shipping services and links to the Walvis Bay harbour, shippers from the SADC region have more choices of shipping lines calling directly at Walvis Bay.
‘This really forms part of our strategic development at the WBCG to allow more options for importers and exporters in Southern Africa,’ said the statement.
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