New service to cut sea cargo travel time |11 February 2015

Cargo transportation time to Port Victoria is expected to reduce considerably now that Maersk Line has introduced three new container ships this month which will serve only the Indian Ocean routes including Seychelles.

The new service was officially launched during a reception last week for local importers, exporters, businessmen and other stakeholders.

Also present at the event, held at the Eden Bleu Hotel on Eden Island, was the new Minister for Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy Jean-Paul Adam, Maersk Group regional managing director Michael Bjornlund, trade and marketing manager Lee Brough as well as its local representatives from Hunt Deltel. Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping line, has been operating in Seychelles for more than 10 years.

At present cargo being transported by Maersk Line to Seychelles from North America, Europe, Asia and South Africa has to transit via the Port of Oman before going through Kenya, Mauritius and Madagascar before arriving to Port Victoria.

As of February 6, after transiting in Oman the cargo ships go directly to Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar before coming to Port Victoria.

Maersk, a multi-billion dollar conglomeration based in Copenhagen, Denmark is primarily involved in the energy and shipping related sectors. The company has been operating in Seychelles for over 10 years under the Maersk Line and Safmarine banners and all its activities are handled here by Hunt, Deltel & Co. Ltd.
The executive director of Hunt Deltel & Co. Ltd Christophe Hoareau said the new service is expected to bring direct benefits for local importers.

Guests listening to a presentation on the new service

“Traditionally Seychellois businessmen have bought everything on CIF basis meaning they had to pay for their goods prior to the goods being shipped, tying up their money for a long time thus increasing financing fees. But with the new service the goods will arrive in Seychelles much sooner with obvious benefits to the businessmen and subsequently more benefits to the consumers,” Mr Hoareau said.

Welcoming the initiative Minister Adam said improvements in the service to cut down transportation time will no doubt bring more economic developments and boost regional trade.

“It is a boost to the economic development we want to foster through more regional trade and more opportunities for local business development,” Minister Adam said.

“This will be a significantly improved service offering,” said Mr Bjornlund.
“Shipping is a constantly evolving industry with changes in trade patterns having a major impact on how services are set up in a region. The financial crisis in 2008 led to large variations in the flow of cargo requiring a shake-up in all ocean transportation services around the world, with Seychelles and the Indian Ocean Islands being similarly impacted,” Mr Bjornlund added.