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OTAL Services > Corporate Information> Press Releases OTAL resumes calls
to Monrovia, Liberia and assists with a humanitarian aid shipment (18/09/03) OT Africa Line is pleased to announce that they have resumed their service to war-torn Monrovia (Liberia). The 'Casablanca' left the port on the 8th September after effective discharge of her cargo. This was the first call by any line to Monrovia post conflict. In the words of Rachel Bennett, OTAL's Marketing Manager: " The port of Monrovia has been unsafe to enter since June. Since then there has been fighting between rebel and government forces around the port area severely damaging warehouses, port buildings and equipment. Rebel leaders from the LURD movement gained total control on July 19th and the port was closed. " The rebels departure on August 18th was marked by widespread looting of food and other supplies from the harbour by both insurgents and civilians in the area. Buildings were further ransacked and port vehicles, furniture, electrical appliances, food and gasoline were pillaged - literally stripping the port dry." The port is now well secured by ECOMIL troops and equipment is steadily being repaired. Currently there is one Toplifter, a empty (MT) handler and several trucks and trailers available. The US Navy is also supplying two 42 tonne toplifters therefore the port will be better equipment than before. Also the Port Authority will apparently be replaced within the next four weeks when a new government is installed. Rachel Bennett comments further: " Our North Feeder Service will call weekly in Monrovia where it receives cargo from Abidjan from our Weekly Container Service. OTAL can therefore offer a 12-day transit from Antwerp. Our local agency office, UMARCO is under repair however operations have resumed. Reefers can be accepted but this is subject to direct delivery." OTAL is also delighted to assist 'Aid International / Mercy Corps' of Scotland in delivering a consignment of well needed aid cargo. This will take the form of 12 x 40ft containers shipped from Felixstowe to Monrovia. Commenting on the shipment, Miss Bennett, says: " The reopening of the port is vital to resolving Liberia's humanitarian crisis, which has worsened during two months of a rebel siege. An estimated 450,000 people in the capital, are in desperate need of food, water, medicines and shelter. " OTAL has a great deal of expertise in
handling such shipments. Years of experience means we can get needy
cargo delivered and properly cleared
even when faced with a complex situation such as this. As a specialist
operator in the West African trade, OTAL is aware of the significance
of this delivery and empathises fully with the aims of Aid International" |
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