Who is UAL

The UAL Alliance combines the diverse aspects of logistics in one dedicated shipping service. Today Universal Africa Lines B.V. (UAL), together with several agents under the UAL brand name throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas, represent a global shipping company that has serviced the Oil & Gas industry since 1973.

UAL’s primary focus is complete logistics management, handling both breakbulk and container shipments in the vast Atlantic Ocean calling ports between Europe, the Caribbean, US Gulf, South America and West Africa.

In addition, UAL offers an intra-African service along the west coast of Africa and a dedicated Caribbean Shuttle service, operating a fleet of multi-purpose, geared vessels, meaning they are equipped with their own cranes for loading and unloading cargo as well as gearless Landing Crafts with low drafts but big intakes to navigate the difficult ports in the region.

At UAL, our customers come first. They can count on fast, flexible, and professional service from our team of experts. UAL combines decades of specialised experience, technical knowledge, and commercial insight, backed by both global management, along with local expertise. Through consistent dedication and hard work, we’ve built strong, trusting relationships with our customers and partners.

We are proud to announce that Universal Africa Lines B.V. is certified in accordance with international standards. Please refer to our documents section for details on all our certifications.

Flexible & Problem-Solving

Tailor-made solutions with 24/7 support

Project Cargo
Expertise

Oil & Gas, RoRo, breakbulk & complex cargo

Global & Local
Presence

Owned offices and trusted regional agents

Safety &
Reliability

Impeccable safety record & secure cargo outturn

Client-Centric Approach

Single point of contact, clear communication

UAL Strengths:

Flexibility: UAL understands the value of cargo and the costs associated with drilling and production in the field. We offer a variety of options, including liner services, last-in-first-out, part charter, and full charter solutions.
Chartering Division: Our in-house chartering division provides additional tonnage when needed, offering time charters, trip charters, and long-term charters to meet our clients’ needs.
Direct Cooperation: UAL works directly with oil companies, tier 1 and tier 2 contractors, freight forwarders, and brokers, ensuring seamless coordination.
Local Support: With experienced agents and representatives throughout Africa, UAL provides local support wherever it's required.
Feeder Services: We offer feeder services across Africa and the Caribbean using shallow draft vessels to access more challenging ports.
K5 Freeport & Oil Centre: As part of the UAL Alliance, we operate the K5 Freeport & Oil Centre, an oil-free zone, supply base, and vessel terminal.
Special Handling Expertise: For specialised cargo, UAL employs dedicated supercargoes to manage all special handling and stowage requirements.
Impeccable Safety Record: We have an excellent safety record when it comes to cargo outturn, ensuring secure and efficient deliveries.
Innovative Problem-Solving: UAL’s ability to "think outside the box" is a key strength, especially in logistically challenging and remote areas.
Quick Response: With a team available 24/7, we guarantee a rapid response and dedicated personnel to handle your needs at any time.
Single Point of Contact: For streamlined logistics support, we can appoint a single point of contact to manage all your needs.

UAL Alliance was created to bring together the group’s strengths and services under one major commercial entity. Today, it delivers a full suite of solutions that support the expanding logistics demands of the Oil & Gas industry, the Energy sector and infrastructure development projects.

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Mission • Vision • Awareness • Environment • Social Entrepreneurship

UAL’s mission is to offer our customers the best logistic chain management from Europe and the America's to West Africa and back. We are not only bringing breakbulk and containers from point A to point B, but we also arrange for documentation, customs clearance and ship and port management through our network of UAL Agents. We strive to be more than a carrier: our mission is to solve our customers’ logistic problems by providing them with complete logistic chain management.

UAL's vision is to establish the same service on the routes to and from East Africa. In this region, vast quantities of gas have been found, and new developments are well underway. We have already established business alliances in the area, which will enable us to offer regular liner services soon.

Our customers and their logistic needs are of central importance to us.
We are proud to be able to attest to our long-standing business relations with most of the major contenders in the Oil & Gas industry.
Awareness of customers’ needs is essential and therefore we communicate with our customers on a daily basis.

UAL Alliance has invested in ecological sustainability:

We were one of the first companies to commission to build 5 of our own “Eco-Trader” vessels with substantially reduced draft, resulting in efficient fuel consumption. These vessels are easily recognisable by their innovative axe bow.
We have expanded our investment into preserving basic resources such as drinking water with our award winning
Ecoaguas Plant.
We have obtained internationally recognised licences to ship and manage hazardous waste from Africa to Europe to have it recycled in certified plants, all in full compliance with the Basel treaty. We provide complete K5 Waste Management for our customers, with certificates documenting the recycling of their waste in full compliance to this treaty.

UAL Alliance also has its own broad-based social investment project through Youngblood Arts & Culture Development. As UAL connects continents, so arts and culture connect all parts of the world! It was and is our mission to support progress within the creative sector and to connect people internationally through local arts and culture. This way, many talented individuals are given a very real chance at a sustainable future in the creative industries.