“We hope to be given the same berthing priority as ships flying the Algerian flag”

Econostrum.info: What role does Marfret Algeria play in the group's portfolio and in North Africa?

Amal Louis: Marfret Algeria is a subsidiary of Marfret and our official representative in Algeria. The shipping company is headquartered in Marseille and provides services to Algeria with two vessels: the Waddens offering a container ship service on a weekly basis to Algiers and the ConRO ship Niolon calling at the ports of Oran and Mostaganem. Our activities in Algeria account for almost 5% of the company's turnover.

What are the advantages of using trailer and Ro-Ro transport compared to other methods?

The advantage of using a trailer as a logistical method for the customer is that goods are delivered quickly. In contrast to what we've seen in Tunisia and Morocco, this solution has not been fully exploited in Algeria due to the difficulties of port passage and Algeria's weak exports.

How is the market for Ro-Ro shipping from Europe to Algeria evolving?

The market for Ro-Ro services in Algeria is divided between trailers on one hand and rolling stock on the other. There has been a very significant reduction in the latter following the ban of second-hand rolling stock by the Algerian authorities.
 

What can be done to boost and facilitate Ro-Ro transport?

Trailer transport seems to be better adapted when there is a closer North-South industrial partnership with remote dealerships as in Morocco and Tunisia.
 

What impact does the specialisation of some Algerian ports have, like Mostaganem and Oran for example? Have you adapted to the regulations? Is waiting time limiting traffic?

To limit congestion in the port of Algiers, new rolling stock (lorries, public works vehicles and crawler vehicles...) must now be unloaded at Mostaganem. This leads to an extra cost for the distributors who are mostly based in Algiers, and also creates congestion at Mostaganem whose wharves aren't suitable for this increase in activity. We would like our regular Ro-Ro services to be recognised so that we can benefit from the same berthing priority as ships flying the Algerian flag.


Special issue : Market 14

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