Hapag-Lloyd, the German container line, proposes to expand from March its China-India service with the introduction of two new loops, the North China-India (NCI) service and Central China-India (CCI) service.

The proposed services would replace the existing China-India Service which is to offer the last Westbound sailing from Xingang on February 24, according to shipping industry sources.

NCI, to start from March 4, will have port rotation of Xingang-Qingdao-Laem Chabang-Singapore-Tanjung Pelepas-Port Kelang-JNPT-Colombo-Port Kelang-Singapore-Tanjung Pelepas–Xingang.

CCI, to start from March 11, will have the port rotation of Ningbo-Shanghai-Shenzhen-Shekou-Singapore-Port Kelang-JNPT-Pipavav-Colombo-Port Kelang-Singapore-Hongkong-Ningbo.

Meanwhile, Zim, the Israeli line, too has announced that it is splitting its Far East-India-Mediterranean-North Europe service into two loops to serve separately the Far East-India-Eastern Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean and North Europe trades.

The port rotation of the loop covering India will be Alexandria-Ashdod- Haifa-Mersin- Haifa- Port Kelang- Shanghai-Dachan Bay-Port Kelang-JNPT-Mundra-Alexandria. The service will be operated with eight vessels each of 3400 TEUs.

However, through slot purchase agreements with Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk, Zim will continue to offer services from the Eastern Mediterranean to North European ports. In addition, it will offer two direct Asia-North Europe calls through slot arrangement with China Shipping Container Line’s AEX1 service and on CES2/AEX2 services jointly operated by CSCL and Evergreen, the sources add.

Source: The Hindu Business Line