Serving alongside CMA CGM Karibu, Cape Bonavista replaces Hanseduo in the service which calls at Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Dares Salaam, Mombasa and Karachi with a 28-day round voyage time.
With 80 reefer plugs, Cape Bonavista will support MacAndrews' increasing commitment to carrying fresh produce in refrigerated unts.
Comments Jim Robb, General Manager, Indian Trades: "Creating a homogenous vessel fleet for our Swahili Express service has been a priority. Cape Bonavista is a faster ship that will help us ensure schedule integrity on the service.
"Our Swahili Express service is only six months old but has already established a strong market position and enabled us to capitalize on the significant growth in trade that is being seen between the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and East Africa.
"When we launched the service, we stated that it demonstrated our commitment to expanding the MacAndrews brand into new markets and enhancing our presence in the Indian sub-continent and Middle East.
By investing in the service product with a faster and larger ship, we will be in a better position to fully satisfy customer demand and, once again, prove that we are in the trade for the long-term."
From Nhava Sheva, typical transit times for MacAndrews' Swahili Express Service are four days to Jebel Ali, 12 days to Dares Salaam and 13 days to Mombasa. Northbound, from Mombasa the service offers a 10-day return transit to Karachi.
Cape Bonavista is flagged in Cyprus and was built in 1992. The ship has a deadweight of 10,200 tons, a nominal capacity of 930 teu (including 80 reefer plugs) and a cruising speed of 16.5 knots. Self-sustained, she is 140 meters long and 22.7 meters wide.
