The Minister of Transports and Communications Janfar Abdulai who witnessed the process in Maputo said that the service is expected to "dynamize" Mozambique's agriculture sector, considered as fundamental to help alleviate and reduce poverty.

Said Mr Abdulai: "We will continue promoting the coastal shipping also for the transport of passengers. We are expecting to acquire three new vessels that will reinforce regions where transport remains a concern, particularly in the north, centre and some parts of the south region."

The ship, with the capacity to transport 260 containers, will stop halfway at the ports of Beira and Nacala, before it arrives in Pemba with some 900 tons of goods.

Managers will also use the first trip to evaluate the ports' capacity to handle this type of service, before it is advanced to the second phase with specific dates for operations.

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