Last Thursday, the vibrant city of Beira saw the consolidation of another significant chapter in its maritime history. The Port of Beira, which is a month away from celebrating a quarter of a century under the diligent management of Cornelder de Moçambique (CdM), enthusiastically welcomed the latest addition to its roster of shipping lines: ONE – Ocean Network Express.
The Port of Beira, a critical node in Mozambique's transport networks, saw the inaugural docking of the vessel Penang Bridge at around 4.45pm, thus marking the official start of ONE's operations in the region. This solemn occasion was marked by festive celebrations, underlining its importance in the region's commercial landscape.
This new line, which is represented in the country through Manica Freight Services, will not only strengthen Mozambique's links with strategic locations such as Maputo, Mombasa, India and the Middle East, but will also operate in coordination with the UNIFEEDER line, thus promoting better use of space through container sharing. Initially, services are expected to run every two weeks.
Miguel de Jenga, operations director at Cornelder de Moçambique, outlined the potential this new line will bring to the Beira corridor. The new shipping line will enrich the range of options available to importers and exporters operating in this vital area, thus broadening commercial opportunities for both central Mozambique and neighbouring countries.
At the same time, the economic scene should also witness positive developments, with the emergence of healthy competition between shipping lines, a dynamic that is likely to prompt a beneficial review of cost structures for the commercial agents involved.
For his part, Ahmad Ali Haffejee, who heads Manica Freight Services in Beira, expressed his confidence in ONE – Ocean Network Express, predicting a considerable flow of cargo from this strategic port. This development complements the collaboration already established between ONE and the Port of Maputo.
In addition, CdM is devoting significant resources to the continued development of the Port of Beira, an initiative that promises multiplying benefits for all stakeholders.
With the inclusion of ONE – Ocean Network Express, the Port of Beira now hosts six distinct shipping line operators, consolidating its position as a central maritime hub in the region. CdM, which already collaborates actively with other major lines such as MSC, PIL, MAERSK, CMA-CGM and Gold Star Line (GSL), thus reiterates its commitment to boosting Mozambique's maritime development.
