SINGAPORE-based Pacific International Lines' (PIL) West African service recently made its maiden call at port of Dalian's Daoyaowan phase 1 container terminal, and became the first West African service that calls at the port of Dalian, Xinhua reports.

The service offers one sailing per week, calling at major West African and South African ports such as Lagos and Durban, and uses thirteen 2,800-TEU vessels. Dalian will be its first stop in China.

Including the new service, there are now a total of 103 container shipping lanes calling at Dalian. Fourteen are direct shipping lines, covering Europe, Mediterranean, Black Sea, US west coast, South America east coast, Australia, New Zealand, East Africa, West Africa, India and Pakistan.