NYK Launches Ghana operations

An international shipping company, Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line (NYK), has launched its operations in Ghana in partnership with a local shipping company, Antrak Ghana Limited.
By this relationship, Antrak thus becomes the sole agent of NYK Line in Ghana, the second in Africa after South Africa and the first in the West African sub-region.
Customers of both shipping giants will by this relationship have the opportunity of a direct transportation of their goods from any part of the world to Ghana and the West African sub-region.
At a reception to celebrate the launch of NYK Line in Ghana with their clients, the President and Chief Executive Officer of NYK Group Europe Limited, Mr Masaniichi Morooka, said NYK could pride itself with 124 years of extensive experience in the shipping of goods across the world and had the history of providing quality carriage globally.
Mr Morooka said other benefits to be enjoyed by this partnership included direct services between main markets in Asia and South Africa and a direct connection to global network.
He said his organisation offered the most competitive transit times in the world thereby reducing the time and cost of doing business across its operational areas globally, as well as established networks in Asia.
Mr Morooka added that NYK was the biggest shipping line in Japan and the ninth largest shipping company globally making it an ideal agent for any local company worldwide.
With this advantage on it side, the president said any shipping line that forged any relationship with NYK stood the chance of rocking shoulders with the other giants in the industry while serving its clients.
Mr Morooka commended Ghana for making significant strides in the industry over the last three decades after 30 years of absence from Ghana.
He was hopeful that the new relationship would be a step towards building another bridge between Asia and West Africa by helping importers and exporters of Ghana to have their goods transported in a safe and timely manner.
The General Manager of Antrak Group Limited, Mr Alexandre Freland, told the Daily Graphic that the relationship with NYK had become necessary due to the increasing demand in the shipping industry.
"The recent discovery of oil in Ghana and the government’s quest to expand cocoa production has further increased the need for marine transportation,” he said.
Mr Freland explained that his company was not affected by the financial crisis because it was able to maintain its volume and also added other shipping lines.
He said Antrak with about 55 years of experience in the industry was repositioning itself with this relationship to serve customers better.