Safmarine withdrawing from Australia trades

Safmarine withdrawing from Australia trades A.P. Moller-Maersk subsidiary Safmarine Container Lines is pulling out of its Australian trades effective Jan. 1.
   Safmarine has been active in Australia since 2001 and has slots on direct connections between Australia and the Far East onboard services of Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Safmarine's affiliate Maersk Line, who it also takes space from in the Trans-Tasman trade on the weekly U.S. East Coast/Australasia Oceania Americas Service (OC1).
   Belgium based Safmarine also has non-direct Australian connections with Africa and South America via relay at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia.
   “After the end of 2007, Safmarine's sister organization Maersk Line, will continue offering the services similar to Safmarine in and out of Australia — and we will be in contact with you in the near future to facilitate and ensure a seamless handover in due course,” Safmarine said in a customer notice.
   A spokesman from Maersk stressed that Safmarine’s withdrawal is not the signal for reduced Australian services by the Danish giant. “Safmarine operates as a standalone and independent brand in Australia. The Maersk Line and Maersk Logistics operations will continue in their current mode,” he confirmed to American Shipper.