Patrick Campbell

General Manager, Durban

Pacific Basin’s Durban office was established in December 2011, and the years since commencing this operation in South Africa have been among the most fulfilling of my 24 years in shipping.

Despite the difficult market conditions of recent years and the challenges of establishing a commercial presence in the region, we have overcome all obstacles and made good progress through close, constructive interaction between our Durban team and our Pacific Basin colleagues globally. The willing support of our worldwide commercial office network enabled us to grow and quickly become a leading operator in the Southern and Eastern African region.

Our progress in Africa is also attributable to the partnerships established with our customers and the support they have given us. The longer-term partnership approach is key to what differentiates us from our competitors. Rather than offering a standard spot freight service, we seek a far greater and closer engagement with our customers so that, face to face, we can fully understand their needs, offer a flexible service and work together to overcome the frequent challenges that stem from Africa’s less developed infrastructure and corresponding logistical challenges.

Pacific Basin’s corporate tagline – “With you for the long haul” – epitomises our approach to business, both internally and externally. It echoes a philosophy that each of us embraces, as it guides our Durban team to strive for the best possible long-term relationships with our customers, partners and our colleagues worldwide.