The Dubai-based ocean carrier will expand its services to the South American market as part of its overall growth strategy in the region.
The ocean carrier United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has tapped the Ultramar Group to be its local liner shipping agency partner in the South American countries of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
This announcement comes shortly after UASC ordered 2,000 additional reefer units for use in the South American trade lanes. In September 2014, the Dubai-based carrier formed a slot-sharing agreement with Hamburg Süd of Germany, effective from the middle of 2015, giving UASC greater access to the trade lanes between Europe, Asia and East Coast South America.
Just last week, French carrier CMA CGM also announced plans to cooperate extensively with Hamburg Süd. Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM vice chairman, called the deal “a major new agreement,” that would bolster the carrier’s position in both North and South America.
UASC and CMA CGM are members of the newly-formed Ocean Three vessel sharing agreement, covering the major east-west trade lanes, along with CSCL of China.
According to ocean liner schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, UASC currently only participates on one direct region-to-region service in South America, purchasing slots on the joint Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) and Maersk Line Bossa Nova loop between European and African ports on the Mediterranean and the east coast of South America.
Maersk recently announced it would cut capacity on the Bossa Nova by 10 percent due to decreased European demand, possibly in preparation for UASC’s departure from the service as it begins to cooperate more closely with Hamburg Süd.
Ultramar provides agency, ports and logistics services in 16 countries in South America, covering all major ports in the area.
UASC said in a statement about the expanded partnership with Ultramar, “Serving all major ports along the Brazilian East Coast and the River Plate, UASC’s customers will have access to an enhanced product offering for the South American East Coast. Under the Hamburg Süd cooperation, UASC’s services from North Europe to South America East Coast and Mediterranean to South America East Coast will commence in mid-April. The first sailing from Asia to South America East Coast is scheduled for the beginning of July.”
“From our existing relationship with Ultramar we know that we will be working with a trusted and committed partner,” said Jørn Hinge, president and CEO of UASC. “Ultramar has an outstanding track record in South America and we are confident that it can support our near and medium-term goals for this marketplace.
“The East Coast South American markets of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay provide significant opportunity for UASC and its customers,” Hinge added. “As an emerging global carrier that places customer service at the very heart of our operations, we are continuously exploring enhanced geographical reach and improved products, whilst always safeguarding reliability and service excellence.”
UASC is also scheduled to take delivery of 11 new ultra-large containerships by the end of 2015 as part of the carrier’s fleet expansion, which includes orders for 11 15,000-TEU vessels and six 18,800-TEU ships.
UASC partners with Ultramar in South America
