The event took place in the presence of Mozambique's President Armando Guebuza Emílio, Mozambican government officials and Chairman of the Board Leif O. Høegh, as well as business contacts from several continents.
'Höegh Maputo' was built at the Xiamen Shipyard in China. It can hold 4900 cars and is therefore a medium-sized car carrier. The ship holds the Norwegian flag, the home port is Oslo and it has a full crew of 21 people. It will mainly operate in the Indian Ocean with regular stops in Maputo and sometimes pass the southern tip of Africa, to Luanda.
Maputo’s port is about to be built up into a major hub for maritime commerce in and out of the African east coast. Høegh Autoliners has chosen this port for road transport because it is more efficient than other ports in the region - including the major South African ports. The company, together with the South African logistics company Grinrod, has invested in a car terminal. Import and export of vehicles to and from South Africa and other countries on the east coast now largely goes through Maputo. The port has great potential and will be further developed.
'Höegh Maputo' will be sailing for 30 years between Asia and East Africa as a symbolic expression of the importance of the Norwegian-Mozambican commercial cooperation and Norwegian investments in Mozambique. The Høegh-family has also invested in the agricultural sector in Mozambique, where also other Norwegian investors have interests.