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Wilhelmsen Ships Service opens Mozambique office

April 30, 2009 - Wilhelmsen Ships Service has opened an office in Maputo, Mozambique.  The new office is a sign of growing confidence in the region. The company already has a strong presence on the east coast of Africa from Egypt to South Africa, and this latest move is designed to keep up with the growth of Mozambique's economy.

In addition, increased volumes of traffic from South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and other land-locked countries in Southern Africa are being directed through Mozambique. If the fragile political agreement in Zimbabwe holds and the Zimbabwe economy returns to its former productivity, imports and exports through Mozambique will soar. Furthermore, the increased pressure on South African ports has encouraged more operators to send cargo through Maputo to inland destinations. The shorter distance to the main mining areas of South Africa make this a cost-effective route for both imports and exports inland.

The Regional Vice President for Africa, Middle East and Black Sea (AMB), Knut Brathagen says that Wilhelmsen Ships Service is well placed to handle this business. "Initially, the office will specialise in ships agency work and maritime logistics. Later in the year we will supply technical services and products from their renowned Unitor range. They are the only ships service company in Mozambique with the capability to offer this broad range of products and services."
 
"We are very pleased to be opening this new office in Maputo," said Prean Pather, General Manager of Wilhelmsen Ships Service South Africa.  "We first evaluated the market, listened to our customers and evaluated what their needs were in this area, particularly in the field of maritime logistics. The opening of the Maputo office culminates all our efforts and commitment to expanding our global network to partner with our customers in this region.
 
"This fits into our strategy for strengthening our network in all the major ports on the east coast of Africa. We want to be able to offer all our customers on this coastline the same level of service in every port, wherever they happen to call."
 
Good news for the region
Initially, Wilhelmsen Ships Service will operate out of only one office in Maputo, but as the level of activity in the region grows, they anticipate opening a second office in Beira. "When this happens," said Prean, "it will be a sign that confidence has returned to this part of the African coastline. This is good news for the region.

"After many years of instability and natural disasters, Mozambique is now developing into a communications corridor for Southern Africa. We see a long term future for the company in this exciting new market."

Please see Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) company electronic office

For further information, contact:
Ole Jakob Ytterdal
Head of Communications
Wilhelmsen Ships Service
Tel: +47 67 58 40 00
Mobile: +47 97 08 83 62
ole.j.ytterdal@wilhelmsen.com

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is part of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, a Wilh. Wilhelmsen group company. It has the world’s largest maritime services network, with 4,500 marine professionals servicing 2,200 ports in 125 countries.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service supplies safety products and services, Unitor products, Unicool refrigerants, Unitor and Nalfleet marine chemicals, maritime logistics and ships agency to the maritime industry. Last year the company made product deliveries to 25,000 vessels and handled 70, 000 port calls.

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