Grimaldi News 45

West Af r i c a
New terminal area
and logistics services
in Senegal
Investments carried out to widen
further both Dakar hub role and
services for the local market
In accordance with the strategic relevance
of Dakar as regional hub for
the Group network, Grimaldi Senegal
is consolidating its position in the Country
investing in a 6,000 sqm area of land
located in the Dakar port-city area. The
Group’s local subsidiary is planning to
build new offices on the premises, and to
create a logistics centre for the trucking
activity, as well as offering an off-dock
container depot.
In order to guarantee the high standards
required to serve all Grimaldi lines on
the Atlantic routes with 200 ship calls per
annum, Grimaldi Senegal is also managing
the only licensed car park area in the
port. The area has a surface of 7,500 sqm,
completely fenced and secured, in order to
ensure damage-free handling solutions for
both cargo transhipped for other west African
destinations, and the import of vehicles
bound for the Senegalese market.
Furthermore, in order to guarantee highquality
standards of services to the customers,
Grimaldi Senegal is operating its
own haulage to door with a fleet which also
includes a side-lifter trailer equipped with
40 tons lifting capacity to allow deliveries
at any premises.
Central Express Service improvements
The introduction of a sixth vessel increases hold capacity and improves the
frequency to every six days. Network extended to Abidjan
With the aim to meet shippers’ requests
for more frequent sailings
from Europe to key West African destinations,
Grimaldi has taken the decision
to upgrade its Central Express Service
which, until the end of 2008, was served
by five large Ro/Ro multipurpose vessels.
From early 2009, this service is being
strengthened and improved through
the introduction of a sixth Ro/Ro multipurpose
vessel which is replacing a
dedicated car carrier. This development
will mark an increase in cargo intake capacity
to all the destinations covered by
the service while frequency is being increased
from 8 to 6 days.
Meanwhile, the service has recently resumed
calling at Abidjan, in Ivory Coast
marking a return to this important destination,
offering a regular, fast and direct
access to European markets for Ivorian
exporters.
Once all the new developments are introduced
in early 2009, the result will be a
market leading combined Multipurpose
Ro/Ro service well suited also for project
cargo and containers, offering a direct
sailing every six days from Northern Europe
to Lomé, Cotonou, Lagos, Tema and
Abidjan, thus allowing shippers to plan
more effectively their shipments.
Dakar
Hamburg
Tilbury Amsterdam
Antwerp
Le Havre
Abidjan
Tema
Lome
Cotonou
Lagos
GNEWS 11