NYK enters Brazilian cabotage trade

   NYK said it has entered the Brazilian container cabotage trade,  acquiring a 10 percent interest in Maestra Navegação e Logistica S.A.  (Maestra) and two group companies.
   The two partners plan to begin a new service in November using four vessels with nominal capacity of 1,100 to 1,600 TEU that will offer fixed-day weekly service in the following rotation: Navegantes – Santos – Rio de Janeiro – Salvador – Suape – Manaus – Suape – Navegantes. Manaus is located about 900 miles inland on the Amazon River.
   NYK and Maestra also agreed to nominate one board member from the NYK Group to Maestra’s board of directors and to start Brazilian domestic container transport from November.
   NYK said the deal will allow it to not only participate in the Brazilian cabotage sector, but also have coverage to and from Manaus and northeast Brazil, connecting with NYK’s existing liner services calling the country.