Universal Africa Lines (UAL) is building on the success of its Latin America Service and is further expanding its presence in the region with a new office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The decision comes only a year after the company started a direct service connecting the US Gulf and West Africa with the East Coast of South America and the Caribbean.

This direct liner service from Houston to Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil is supplemented with vessels calling from the US Gulf to and from West Africa, offering several sailings per month. Renato Couto has been appointed as the Director of UAL Brazil.

“We have found in Mr. Renato Couto an industry leader who is very well recognized in Brazil, and we are confident he will expand our success even further. We are here to stay,” Harald Maas, Managing Director of Universal Africa Lines said.

“All vessels offered are modern geared box-shaped multipurpose vessels, with heavy lift capacity of up to 360 metric tonnes,” the company said.

The high demand from the Brazilian market and the resulting increase in bookings has led UAL to establish its own office in Rio de Janeiro to enhance its service in this market.

“The success of UAL’s Latin America Service requires that we further grow our presence in this region, and the opening of our new office in Brazil is a direct result of this,” said Maas. “Our fast growth in this market shows that there is a need for our reliable services. I think the direct connection between the Americas and West Africa is also an added plus for our clients.”

Commenting on the company’s growth, Couto added, “What helped of course, was that UAL wasn’t a newcomer to this business. For over 51 years in West Africa and they were already calling Brazil for many years on their way to and from Houston. This has expanded now into a dedicated service connecting Brazil with for example Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad as well as other Caribbean destinations and Africa on a regular basis.”