SAECS TO UPGRADE CORE EUROPE TO SOUTH AFRICA SERVICE

From January 2005 the Members of the Southern Africa Europe Container Service (Deutsche Afrika-Linien, Safmarine, Maersk-Sealand and P&O Nedlloyd) will be replacing their seven core service vessels with six larger, faster vessels in a new agreement on their weekly named day schedule.

The new vessels will be all purpose built for the trade with 900 Integral reefer plugs, all capable of accepting 40' Integral reefer containers, replacing the blown air reefer system. This substantial increase in capacity underwrites the long-term growth of the trade.

SAECS has served the Southern Africa trade successfully as market leader since July 1977 and the continuation of the Consortium and investment in new, larger vessels with greater reefer capacity, reflects the Lines' confidence in the Europe/Southern Africa trade.

The Lines intend to maintain the Intermediate service and will flex its capacity in line with specific overall prevailing market conditions.