SCT launches Atlantic US–Africa service

The new service has a port rotation of Suape–Cape Verde–Gambia–Guinea–Guinea Bissau–Liberia–Mali–Mauritania–Senegal–Sierra Leone–Boston. It is expected to boost Brazil’s trade with the lucrative African Occidental Coast market and the United States mainland, according to Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), the parent company of TSSA. In 2005, Brazil accounted for US$290m of the US$12bn in import goods shipped to the African west coast countries.

The service will make at least 10 calls during the first year of the agreement. It was officially launched when the 294 teu capacity and general cargo ship AS Africa called at SCT, which is the leading container facility in north and northeastern Brazil. Atlantic Shipping began operations to Africa in 1995 and, since 1999, has also operated regular services to the port of Ponta Delgada in the Azores.