NYK and NileDutch have announced a fortnightly service between Asia, South Africa and West Africa, starting June 17 with the arrival of the Commodore in Shanghai.
The service will run between Shanghai, Shenzhen (Shekou), Singapore, Durban, Lome, Tema and Lagos with NileDutch and NYK deploying two vessels of 2,200 TEU and 2,700 TEU.
Said NYK trade director Yasunobo Suzuki: "This service is being introduced to support the huge inward investment by our Asian customers in West Africa, built upon growing demands of African consumers. It will also provide a direct service for African exporters to Asia."
NileDutch's Jan-Willem de Braal said its development will further support the market's recognition of his company's leading role in West Africa and will provide an even better service range to it's customers.
The service is the first joint venture for NYK and NileDutch and it marks a return to West Africa for NYK. NileDutch will be expanding its presence in West Africa in addition to its current Asia-Angola service, said their joint statement.
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) operates 780 major ocean vessels as well as fleets of aircraft, trains and trucks. As of March 2009, its shipping fleet included 154 containerships, 289 bulk carriers, 57 woodchip carriers, 112 car carriers, 80 tankers, 33 LNG carriers and three cruise ships. NYK's revenue in 2008-09 was US$24 billion and it employs 55,000 people worldwide and is rated the world's ninth largest container shipping company.
NileDutch, a niche carrier active in West Africa for 30 years, operates several liner services from different continents into the region. Aside from container vessels, the company also operates ro-ro vessels. Since 2006, it has direct service linking China and south east Asia with Angola and Congo.
The service will run between Shanghai, Shenzhen (Shekou), Singapore, Durban, Lome, Tema and Lagos with NileDutch and NYK deploying two vessels of 2,200 TEU and 2,700 TEU.
Said NYK trade director Yasunobo Suzuki: "This service is being introduced to support the huge inward investment by our Asian customers in West Africa, built upon growing demands of African consumers. It will also provide a direct service for African exporters to Asia."
NileDutch's Jan-Willem de Braal said its development will further support the market's recognition of his company's leading role in West Africa and will provide an even better service range to it's customers.
The service is the first joint venture for NYK and NileDutch and it marks a return to West Africa for NYK. NileDutch will be expanding its presence in West Africa in addition to its current Asia-Angola service, said their joint statement.
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) operates 780 major ocean vessels as well as fleets of aircraft, trains and trucks. As of March 2009, its shipping fleet included 154 containerships, 289 bulk carriers, 57 woodchip carriers, 112 car carriers, 80 tankers, 33 LNG carriers and three cruise ships. NYK's revenue in 2008-09 was US$24 billion and it employs 55,000 people worldwide and is rated the world's ninth largest container shipping company.
NileDutch, a niche carrier active in West Africa for 30 years, operates several liner services from different continents into the region. Aside from container vessels, the company also operates ro-ro vessels. Since 2006, it has direct service linking China and south east Asia with Angola and Congo.