South Africa V.V. Trade - SAECS Service Enhancement

To meet changing requirements in the trade between Europe and South Africa, both for dry and reefer cargo, and improve the quality of the service product offered, the SAECS Member Lines - DAL, Maersk, MOL and Safmarine - announced the merging of the current SAECS service with the MedShuttle/225 service.

The joint service will operate with larger sized vessels and the weekly named day frequency will continue to be maintained by eight vessels with the transit times between North Europe and South Africa largely unchanged.

In northern Europe and South Africa the port rotations will remain unchanged but will be supplemented by calls at Algeciras on both the southbound and northbound voyages improving transit times from Mediterranean to South Africa v.v.

The replacement of the current SAECS fleet of vessels will begin in January 2014 and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2014.

As part of this service enhancement program the Med Shuttle / 225 Service operated by Maersk/ Safmarine between Algeciras and South Africa on which MOL and DAL participate as slot charterers will be terminated during the fourth quarter 2013. Algeciras calls will be added to SAECS core service when MedShuttle/225 is suspended continuing to provide weekly service to/from the Mediterranean.

This service enhancement program reaffirms, in continuation of the long tradition of the SAECS service on the trade between Europe and South Africa, that the member lines are committed to continue to provide and maintain a first class reliable service which is structured and operated to best meet the requirements of the trade overall