Van den Bosch is expanding its deep-sea activities with the purchase of 500 additional 20-ft. tank containers. The logistics provider said the ISO tank containers immediately were put into use, enabling it to respond to growing demand from the African market for deep-sea transport with ISO tanks for the food industry.
The Netherlands-headquartered company, which now is one of the world’s largest tank operators for the food industry, runs its deep-sea activities from its Dubai branch. The focus is on the African market with an emphasis on shipping liquid food products, such as olive and sunflower oil, ethanol, glucose and whisky, in ISO tank containers. “We have been active in Africa since 2014, with a particular focus on developments in the continent,” said Mark Ashton, commercial director of Van den Bosch in Dubai, in a news release. “Over the years, we have grown with the increasing demand for bulk transport. The purchase of these 500 additional containers reflects that and will support our growth model within Africa.”
Sustainable change
Much of Africa still operates in the traditional way, whereby products are shipped in small packages or flexitanks, Van den Bosch added. As “The Supply Changer in Bulk,” Van den Bosch focuses on setting up and redirecting traditional transport flows to bulk transport. “ISO tank containers offer an efficient, reliable, and sustainable alternative,” Ashton explained. ‘Through our current operations in countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria, we’ve noticed the need for such a sustainable transport solution.
“Investment in the region offers us opportunities to develop further in the African market. This includes countries such as Cameroon, Senegal, Togo, and even Sierra Leone. The focus is now on establishing a reliable and available supply of ISO tank containers in these countries. That is the key to sustainable change.”
New Ivory Coast cleaning station
Further investment in the African market translates into the construction of new tank cleaning facilities on the African continent, the company said.
A new tank cleaning station is opening in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, following the cleaning station that opened in Ghana in 2016. “For bulk transport to take place, ISO tanks must be available that comply with the proper cleaning requirements,” Ashton said. “The new cleaning station will be built in full compliance with European quality standards for food, Kosher, and Halal cleaning.”
The cleaning station is expected to open in the second quarter of 2023.