News Release

11th June 2001

Kien Hung Shipping brings Africa closer with start of New Direct Shipping Service from JICT


11-Jun-2001

[Jakarta, 9th June 2001] – Trade links between Indonesia and Africa took a step forward today when Taiwanese carrier Kien Hung Shipping’s “M.V. Bernhard Schulte” berthed at Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) to launch a new fortnightly “FEWA” (Far East West Africa) Service between Indonesia and South and West Africa. This is the first ever direct regular container shipping link between Indonesia and the African Continent.

The 20,275 DWT, 1,354 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity “M.V Bernhard Schulte” will be joined by three sister ships, the “M.V Hansa Centaur”, the “M.V London Tower” and the “M.V Westerhever” to offer departures from JICT on alternate Fridays to Port Klang, Colombo, Durban, Cape town, Lagos, Cotonou, Tema and Abidjan before returning via Hong Kong to JICT.

The benefits of the new service were underlined by Mr. Paul Haegeman of Kien Hung Shipping’s General Agent in Indonesia, Andhika Lines, who commented “This is the first service call from Kien Hung in Indonesia: we have identified the demand for a service which provides new direct and faster transits for cargoes between Indonesia and Africa, and so look forward to being a part of the burgeoning trade links between the two areas.”

Mr. W.S. Wirjawan, President Director of JICT, expressed the terminal’s thanks for the start of the “FEWA” service and wished the line success in the new venture: “We very much appreciate the support of Kien Hung and Andhika Lines in choosing to start a new service at our terminal. Opening a brand new trade link is a positive development for Indonesia and one which offers new opportunities for shippers in Indonesia and Africa. We wish the service the best of success and hope that it grows with JICT as we continue with our program to develop a world class hub port for Indonesia.”