OT Africa Line first to resume calls at Monrovia

OT Africa Line first to resume calls at Monrovia    The Europe/West Africa shipping line OT Africa Line has resumed service to the port of Monrovia, following the return of civil order in Liberia.
   Its vessel the “Casablanca” sailed from the port on Sept. 8, the first call by any carrier since the recent trouble.
   “The port of Monrovia has been unsafe to enter since June,” said Rachel Bennett, OT Africa Line’s marketing manager. “The rebels’ departure on Aug. 18 was marked by widespread looting of food and other supplies from the harbor by both insurgents and civilians in the area –literally stripping the port dry,” she added.
   A minimum of port handling equipment has now been made available. The carrier’s local agency office is still under repair, but its operations in the port have resumed.
   “The port authority will apparently be replaced within the next four weeks when a new government is installed,” OT Africa Line said.