The Maritime Business Chamber (MBC) says Maersk‘s withdrawal of direct shipping services between South Africa and the United States will have a significant impact on time-sensitive sectors such as fresh fruit.

This after the global shipping giant announced plans to restructure its operations, which will result in its exit from the country later this year.

This will see South Africa being left with only one direct shipping line to the US.

MBC Chairperson Unathi Sonti says this move highlights the need for the country to develop its own shipping lines.

“There are time-sensitive sectors, such as the fresh fruits ones, which then require the number of days that the vessel would have to go direct to New York from South Africa. So now, transshipment means it must go to another port, and we don’t know what the waiting period in that port will be…and then, it then gets to the transshipment and (we) pre-empt it goes to where it’s supposed to go. So, there is a greater implication in that.”