Universal Africa Lines (UAL) is aligning its shipping network around rising offshore oil and gas activity in Guyana and Suriname, with increased sailings and regional connections supporting project cargo flows.
Speaking with OilNOW at the company’s booth during day two (February 18) of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Dennis Malkoc, UAL Business Development Manager, said the company is moving specialized cargo tied to offshore operators and contractors.
“We focus on oil and gas material, so anything that doesn’t fit in a container, and anything that’s used by offshore oil majors and their subsidiaries, like Halliburton, Schlumberger [SLB], Saipem, all these guys, we work with them closely,” he said.
These companies are all major contractors of ExxonMobil, the operator of Guyana’s Stabroek Block. Exxon, a key player in Guyana’s oil success, currently has four floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in operation.
In Guyana, UAL operates a direct link from the United States, cutting transit time for oilfield supplies and equipment.“We have a straight sailing from Houston to Georgetown, which is, of course, a major advantage,” he said.
He pointed to recent vessel clustering as a sign of rising demand. “Recently, we had three vessels right at the same time in Georgetown,” Malkoc said.
In Suriname, UAL is supporting offshore campaigns with lifts into Paramaribo, including European project cargo. Suriname is now building out its offshore oil and gas sector. The company also runs a nine-day inter-Caribbean shuttle service linking Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname, facilitating cross-border cargo movements tied to offshore operations.
Looking at the wider region, Malkoc said developments in Venezuela could materially change cargo volumes.
“If that opens up also, then that’s a whole different ball game,” he said. “The cargo flows that will be coming towards the Caribbean will be incredible.” Malkoc suggested that closer regional trade coordination could ease cargo transfers and lower logistics costs.
Asked about the company’s purpose at the conference, Malkoc said UAL is reinforcing its commitment to the region and tracking the next phase of offshore development.
“We came here really just to show that, okay, we’re here to stay,” he affirmed.
UAL
UAL is a privately-owned shipping company with over 50 years of experience in multipurpose liner services. UAL connects Europe, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the United States with West Africa, the Caribbean and South America. With a modern fleet of multipurpose vessels, UAL specializes in transporting containers, RoRo, breakbulk and project cargo on fixed schedules. The company combines European management with local offices in key regions to ensure flexibility, reliability and personal service.
For bookings and enquiries:
UAL Trinidad Contact: Samantha Rambert-David. Telephone: +1 (868) 252-1028 / +1 (868) 225-2716 and email: [email protected].
UAL Guyana Contact: Ameer Hassan. Telephone: +592 6086685 and email: [email protected].
UAL Suriname Contact: Paul Torilal. Telephone: +597 8533514 and email: [email protected].
