THREE CARRIERS TO COOPERATE ON ASIA/SOUTHERN AFRICA ROUTE

THREE CARRIERS TO COOPERATE ON ASIA/SOUTHERN AFRICA ROUTE    Safmarine, its sister company Maersk Sealand and Mediterranean Shipping Co. will operate a joint service in the Asia/southern Africa trade from next April, following the restructuring of the long-established Safari consortium.
   The current Safari cooperative agreement includes Safmarine, Maersk Sealand, P&O Nedlloyd, MOL, “K” Line and Malaysia International Shipping Corp.
   Safmarine said its new three-carrier vessel-sharing agreement will operate a weekly Asia/southern Africa service utilizing seven ships. Safmarine will provide three vessels, Maersk Sealand another three and Mediterranean Shipping Co. will provide one.
   The service will call directly at Shanghai for the first time. It will have a rotation of Busan, Shanghai, Hong    Kong, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Louis, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban, Port Louis, Tanjung Pelepas, Hong Kong, Keelung and Busan.
   P&O Nedlloyd said it intends to provide its own service, following its departure from the Safari group. It is not clear how the other Safari members — MOL, “K” Line and Malaysia International Shipping Corp. — will serve the trade.