Lykes Lines upgrades U.S. to Africa trade route

Companies doing business in Senegal and South Africa now have better connections to these markets through the Port of Charleston.

The SPA has successfully lured Lykes Lines shipping service from Savannah to Charleston, meaning 26 ships a year and increased business on the growing trade route. The service uses five identical multipurpose ships that can carry breakbulk, bulk and container traffic including refrigerated cargo as well as automobiles, trucks and other rolling stock.

“This investment demonstrates our long-term commitment to our customers on the South African-North America trade route,” says Morten Veflingstad, vice president of commercial, multi-purpose services for Lykes Lines.

In North America, the East Coast loop also calls at Montreal, Philadelphia, Hamilton and Toronto between April and December. Lykes also operates a Gulf loop from New Orleans, Houston, Mexico and South America to Africa.

Charleston is the last port called before ships cross the Atlantic Ocean, meaning a shorter trip to market for exporters. Transit times from Charleston are as short as 13 days to Dakar, 27 days to Cape Town and 30 days to Durban.