Universal Africa Lines (UAL) has introduced a fixed nine-day service linking Point Lisas in Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana’s Georgetown, and Paramaribo, Suriname. It will handle a variety of cargoes, including breakbulk and ro-ro.
A response to increasing demand for reliable, multipurpose shipping options in the Southern Caribbean, the UAL Caribbean Shuttle will be operated by the newly delivered UAL Transporter, a landing craft vessel with a 5 m draught (at max loading capacity) and a capacity of 387 teu.
UAL Transporter has been purpose-built for the region, enabling access to both major terminals and river ports at Georgetown and Paramaribo (where draught confines often limit larger tonnage).
“Traders and forwarders in these markets have long asked for a fixed, reliable shortsea option,” said Martijn Hordijk, project manager of UAL. “With a scheduled nine-day rotation and the ability to load all cargo types, the UAL Caribbean Shuttle provides the consistency exporters and importers need. The service will be managed locally by UAL Trinidad, supported by the head office in the Netherlands.”
Amongst a recent uplift in the Southern Caribbean’s trade, UAL is aiming to strengthen regional connectivity and support long-term trade growth.
Earlier this year, UAL and Bremen Overseas Chartering and Shipping (BOCS) placed a joint order for a pair of newbuild vessels at New Jiangzhou Shipbuilding Heavy Industry.
