Universal Africa Lines, (UAL), the specialist shipping line to the West African oil and gas fields has opened an express direct shipping route to Nigeria.
The new route makes UAL-SA the first break-bulk (non-containerised, packaged cargo) shipping service from South Africa to call directly on Nigeria, so says Haakon Røstad, MD of UAL-SA.
Previously, UAL’s ships dotted down in Durban, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Lobito, Luanda (Sonils), Soyo, Pointe Noire , Port Gentil, Malabo, Onne (Port Harcourt) and finally, Lagos.
The new route comes at a time of accelerating growth for UAL-SA. After setting up in Cape Town early in 2009, the company set out on its maiden voyage in May of that year. Since then it has completed 21 fortnightly sailings up the West coast of the continent, and says it has built up a loyal client base of South African industries supplying exploration projects, mines and the secondary industries around them.
The announcement further comes at a time of strengthening diplomatic ties between South Africa and Nigeria and predictions of an imminent boom in bilateral trade.
The first direct sailing will be at the end of May, starting in Durban and calling at Cape Town and Walvis Bay before sailing into Apapa Port, Lagos, 12 days later.
The route will operate every three weeks, and will on its return offer round-trip export shipments out of Nigeria to other West African countries and East Africa, via Durban.
To streamline the service, UAL has secured an exclusive berth at the Apapa oil base facility belonging to logistics firm- Eko Support Services. In terms of this arrangement, UAL customers benefit from immediate berthing, speedy clearance in a customs-free zone, two weeks’ free storage and special tariffs for unloading and delivery to clients.
The Eko facility offers 50 reefer plugs and a depot with capacity for 300 containers, operating around the clock with full guarded security.
In addition, the door-to-door service offers barge delivery to Niger Dock on Snake Island across the Niger River.
UAL has signed Premier Logistics Services as its shipping agent, which offers heavy-lift capacity of up to 300 tons.
Elated by the emerging prospects, Røstad said: “Never before has trade between South Africa and Nigeria looked this good, “We hope the new route will further stimulate trade and commercial activities between the two countries as well as the rest of Africa.”
Discussion about this post