Universal Africa Lines have readied the UAL Manitoba, a modern 12,700 dwt multipurpose vessel with three box shaped holds, for service. 

Instead of opting for a newbuild, the company decided to purchase UAL Manitoba in order to pounce on the market opportunities quicker. Ordering a newbuild would have meant the niche carrier for the oil and gas and project industry in West Africa, would have to wait for delivery for two to three years.

The UAL Manitoba is equipped with two 120-ton ship’s gear which can be combined to 240 tons of lifting capacity.

“2021 was a challenging year with the global pandemic but also with the extreme challenges in our domain, worldwide shipping” says Harald Maas, Director of UAL Netherlands, “Due to the current strain on global tonnage and new Oil and Gas markets such as Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mozambique to name a few, the logical step for us was to invest in additional vessels“.

“With our Chartering desk in Denmark, we are also further developing the Mediterranean,” Maas continues, adding, “more reason to add this new lady to our fleet, to be able to meet the expectations of our esteemed clients”.

UAL Manitoba left the dry dock in Varna on March 21, having already secured cargo from the Med to West-Africa.