Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has launched in Le Havre its first RO-RO service now connecting HAROPA to West Africa twice a month. The new service confirms the assets of HAROPA, the leading French port system constituted by the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, for the reception of Ro-Ro shipping Lines.
Of a unit capacity of 6,700 cars, the MSC Immacolata has opened this new fortnightly connection today: from the Ro-Ro terminal in Le Havre, it connects the ports of Antwerp (Belgium), Dakar (Senegal), Conakry (Guinea) and Abidjan (Republic of Côte d’Ivoire) before sailing back to Le Havre. “We are pleased to welcome in the port of Le Havre the MSC Immacolata of our new Ro-Ro West Africa Service for rolling, project and break bulk cargo” the Italian-Swiss shipping line stated.
“This new Ro-Ro Service to West Africa complements our existing dedicated container services and will offer, in addition to rolling or wheeled cargo, the flexibility to cover a range of out-of-gauge and breakbulk cargo, which will be typically large, heavy pieces, or critical equipment for specific projects.”
MSC has been serving African markets since 1971 and has a considerable agency presence across more than 40 countries. ”As MSC continues to develop its presence in West Africa, our teams will offer wider service coverage to all our clients”, the shipping company concluded.
Two modern vessels will be deployed on the service, MSC Immacolata and MSC Cristiana: both of them are 199 metres long and 32 metres broad, for a volume of 59,835 t.
According to Hervé Martel, CEO of the port of Le Havre and vice-president of HAROPA,”the new service confirms the rank of HAROPA, # 1 French port system for connection with the countries on the West African Coast. It also proves the confidence that shipping companies and great alliances place in HAROPA: owing to exceptional nauticality, reliability and performance of all port services, the ports along the Seine corridor are sustainably in line with the logistics schemes of world shipping leaders, including in the Ro-Ro sector.” HAROPA confirms the good figures on its ro-ro sector by posting 18 % rise in trade in 2017, with 370,000 vehicles, both on import and export.
SERVICE: NWC – WEST AFRICA RO-RO
• 2 departures / month
• Terminals:
• Le Havre : SMR – Ro-Ro Terminal Port 1705
• Antwerp : IC – 1241 Kallo
• Dakar : RORO Terminal Bollore
• Conakry :RORO Terminal Bollore
• Abidjan : to be confirmed
