Ethiopian Shipping Lines (ESL) is a state owned corporation established on March 21, 1964. Objectives

• Maintain adequate Shipping Services
• Save and earn Foreign Exchange
• Regulate and maintain a suitable freight structure for the national trade.
• Reduce economic dependence on foreign-owned transport service
• Diversify employment and create training opportunities for young Ethiopians in maritime technology.

ESL commenced its services in 1966 upon delivery five general cargo and one tanker ships where after aye second-hand ships were added to the fleet.

However, due to economic and technical reasons five of these ships were disposed during the years up to 1974 at which period ESL was left with only two owned ships and continued rendering its services with chartered tonnage.

From 1980 up to this anniversary ESL acquired 12 ships thereby increasing the number of its fleet to 14.

Types of ships operated by ESL presently are as follows.

• Multi-purpose ships of 15000 DWT-each                                  4
• Multi-purpose ships of 4100 DWT each                                     2
• RO/RO (Cattle Carrier) of 3300 DWT each                                1 
• RO/RO ships of 870 Lane meters each                                      2
• General Cargo (conventional) of 6550 DWT each                  2
• Product Tanker of 2200 DWT                                                      1
• Container/Gen. Cargo feeders of 370 DWT each                    2

                                                         Total                   14

The lifting capacity of ESL ships is 93,472 DWT OR 139,423 CBM.

ESL’s trade route in the past concentrated mainly on the Liner Service between Red Sea and North. West Continent until 1974.

After 1974 ESL extended its service to European and Mediterranean countries. With a view to promoting Ethiopia’s trade within the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States (PTA), ESL has further extended its service to the Far East via East Africa Ports of Mombasa and Dares Salaam.

PORTS of CALL ON REGULAR LINER SERVECES

RED SEA – NORTH, WEST & EASTERN EUROPE 

ASSAB, MASSAWA, DJIBOUTI to & from et Le Haver, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bremen, Humburg, Uddevalla, Gdynia, Rostock, Middlesbrough

FREQUENCY: ONE SAILING EVERY 2 WEEKS

RED SEA – MEDITERRANEAN

ASSAB, MASSAWA, DJIBOUTI, to & from Jeddah, Piraeus, Rijeka, Trieste, Bari, Leghorn, Barcelona, Marseilles

FREQUENCY: ONE SAILING EVERY 2 WEEKS

RED SEA – FAR EAST

ASSAB, MASSAWA, DJIBOUTI to & from Mombasa, Dar-es-Salaam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pusan, Kobe/Osaka, Yokohama, Keelung

FREQUENCY: ONE SAILING EVERY MONTH