MSC strengthens its Europe – South Africa network

GENEVA : Aiming to improve its Europe – South Africa network, MSC has announced the enhancement of its NWC to South Africa Service, effective from March, and the launch of a new feeder service in the area.

The current rotation of the NWC to South Africa Service will see a significant improvement with the addition of a direct call at the port of Bremerhaven in Germany. This change will increase flexibility for customers shipping cargo between Germany and South Africa, according to MSC’s statement.

The updated rotation of the service will be as follows:

London Gateway, United Kingdom – Rotterdam, Netherlands – Antwerp, Belgium – Hamburg, Germany – Bremerhaven, Germany – Le Havre, France – Sines, Portugal – Las Palmas, Spain – Coega, South Africa – Durban, South Africa – Coega, South Africa – Cape Town, South Africa – Las Palmas, Spain – London Gateway, United Kingdom

The 2016-built container ship MSC Branka will be deployed on the maiden voyage of the revised rotation. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Bremerhaven on 19 March.

Furthermore, MSC will launch a new feeder service, Ingonyama Service, establishing a weekly sea link between the ports of East London, South Africa, and Coega.

“The new service will create a direct sea connection between the manufacturing hub of East London and one of South Africa’s main ports, providing a practical alternative to truck transport between the two,” said MSC in its announcement.

The Ingonyama Service will kick off its weekly schedule with the departure of the 2006-built boxship Tokata F from the port of Coega in South Africa on 25 March.

“Designed to increase flexibility for our customers and increase MSC’s coverage of ports of loading to/from South Africa, the additional service coverage will create a more direct offering for cargo moving between NWC and South Africa,” noted MSC.

The feeder service is also expected to provide improved options for customers shipping goods from the industrial hub of East London with connections to MSC’s global network.