The company has signed a time charter of UAL Cape Town for three years, a 12500-ton (deadweight capacity) ship with dual deck cranes that can lift a combined 160 tons.
The ship had her maiden voyage in May 2009. General ports of call will be Durban, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Lobito, Luanda (Sonils), Soyo, Pointe Noire, Port Gentil, Malabo, Onne (Port Harcourt) and Lagos, for loading and discharge, as well as other ports, upon client request.
Seaclad CO has been appointed UAL's general agent in South Africa. The shipping line's fortnightly service plans to take mainly specialist equipment and supplies to the oil-and-gas exploration and production industries along the West African coast. It also plans to ship a variety of break-bulk and container cargo for oil and gas projects and commercial purposes.
Company CEO Roger Jungblut says South Africa is becoming an increasingly important source of supplies and services, to support bustling activity in the West African oil theatre, stretching from Cape Town to Nigeria. The region produces about 15% of the world's crude oil, around 5 - 6 million barrels per day.
"South Africa is preferred for the strength of its manufacturing and mining industries, and its servicing expertise," says Haakon Røstad, UAL SA managing director. "Of late, SA engineering and technical know-how is in particularly high demand, as there is a big need for servicing of highly specialised equipment."
Røstad says the South African manufacturing, mining, engineering, agricultural, building and construction industries are all in a good position to serve West Africa.
"As South Africa is increasingly favoured as a supply destination to this huge market, the time for local companies and industries to increase export revenue or create an export market is now."
For more information, go to www.ual-sa.co.za and www.universalafricalines.com.
