Grimaldi News 47 - Web Agency

atlaNtic traDeS
Portugal to Angola trade
developments
The Group has made an important step forward to maintaining its leadership
in ensuring a complete coverage of the important Portugal to Angola trade.
Following the success of the Lisbon Express service between Lisbon and Luanda,
Grimaldi Lines has introduced a further con/ro vessel, the Eurocargo
Salerno, dedicated to direct calls in Leixoes and Luanda. Ideal intake of the Eurocargo
Salerno is 500 TEUs, 1.000 linear metres of rolling cargo and 500 cars.
Grimaldi Lines has decided to invest in a direct link from Leixoes in order to satisfy
the increasing demand from producers and shippers of any cargo with destination
the Angolan market. Deployment of the m/v Eurocargo Salerno out of Leixoes is
further supported by sailings of both ships serving the Lisbon Express and the
North Europe/West Africa Southern Express service as demand and needs of customers
dictate.
In line with her sisterships, the Grande
Benin is designed to offer the maximum
flexibility in terms of intake capacity and
type of cargo loaded. The height of its
main decks allows the loading of heavy
and out of gauge rolling equipment such
as trucks, tractors, double-deck buses
and big earthmoving equipment. The
Grande Benin has an ideal intake of
2,000 linear metres of ro-ro cargo plus
2,000 cars or vans and 800 TEUs of containers
while her sophisticated system
of internal ramps, fixed and hoistable,
optimizes the cargo mix. Her quarter
stern ramp allows the loading of cargo
units with a weight of up to 250 tonnes
apiece. Each of her two cranes on the
weather deck are able to lift units (containers
and general cargo) with a weight
of up to 40 tonnes.
All in all the Grande Benin is the 14 th
vessel delivered to the Grimaldi Group
by the Uljanik shipyard over the last
six years. The first 11 were Pure Car
Truck Carriers and the last three were
multipurpose ro-ro vessels. Four more
multipurpose ro-ro vessels are slated
for delivery by Uljianik in 2010 and 2011.
South America Africa Express
Service capacity up 80%
The direct service between Santos and Paranagua (Brazil), Lagos (Nigeria) and
Luanda (Angola) has been substantially upgraded with the deployment in July
of the multipurpose ro-ro car carrier sisterships Fides and Spes which joined the
m/v Carmania Express.
This three-sailings-a-month service is therefore now operating with 100% owned
fleet which allows for even greater quality control and performance. Deployment
of the new vessels represents a significant upgrade in capacity compared to the
previous service configuration.
The monthly capacity of the South America Africa Express service has been increased
by 80% in containers and 10% in high and heavy rolling units, giving a total
of 1,200 TEUs plus 3,400 lane metres of rolling or general cargo. Additionally, these
new vessels have dedicated car/van decks allowing a more efficient loading of this
type of vehicle. This particular benefit commenced with the first call of the m/v Fides
which loaded 100 Mitsubishi pick-ups bound to Luanda.
Casablanca call for
North Europe/South America Service
As from 23 July, Casablanca has been re-introduced as a southbound port
of call for the vessel deployed on the North Europe/South America and
North Europe/West Africa Northern Express Service. The move results from
the improved berth availability for the multipurpose “Grande class” vessels
at the Moroccan port. The service operates on a ten-day frequency connecting
South American ports as well as Hamburg, Tilbury, Antwerp, Le Havre and
Bilbao directly with Morocco. Connections may also be made from US ports
served by ACL via transhipment to Grimaldi Lines’ vessels in North Europe.
A key service feature is the prompt and reliable transit from Casablanca to all West
African and South American ports in the Grimaldi Group’s range, either directly or
via the dedicated Dakar hub. Moroccan exports to the US East Coast may also be
routed via Dakar onto the fortnightly direct service.
GNE WS
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