MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY (MSC)
WORLDWIDE ROUTES
The independent Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) through its innovative, flexible and unique approach to shipping has continued to grow during and beyond the first decade of the new South Africa. The company, which was founded in 1970, has become the biggest user of the South African ports and in 2003 was given the accolade of being the second biggest container carrier in the world.
With in excess of 420 container vessels, the company provides global coverage linking South Africa directly with Europe, UK, USA, Asia, Middle East, Far East and Australia as well as the key ports of Africa's West Coast, East Coast, Indian Ocean Islands, Madagascar and Mozambique. The success of MSC is evident in its phenomenal growth over the past decade that can only be attributed to its quality management systemthat aims at consistently improving upon service levels within the shipping community and its willingness to initiate change to meet the requirements of clients and principals.
MSC has significant investments in the South African property market. Its own characteristic office buildings, worth R220-million, have become landmarks in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The Port Elizabeth office, which was converted from an existing national monument, was opened in 2004 and the restoration alone cost R6.5-million. The Italian Village built in 1996 at the Umhlanga Ridge is comprised of seven houses to accommodate MSC's Italian personnel and their families, and is now valued at R30-million. The complex also has a crèche and day care centre. MSC's hugely successful technical division, which was expanded in 1998, operates a world class, full scale engine repair and maintenance facility, which is headed up by a team of highly, trained Italian and South African technicians and has a staff complement of over 100 members.
Another success has been MSC's diversification into the business of container depots. These are situated in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Rosslyn, Pretoria that boasts its own rail siding as was promised to MSC's clients, particularly the motoring industry, easing the access to their manufacturing plants. The newest depot is the Port Elizabeth one which is situated in the Nelson Mandela Park near Uitenhage and which became fully operational in April 2006. All the depots have Custom bond facilities and due to space restrictions MSC are looking to expand the Durban depot.
