A new China-West Coast India service has been launched by four container lines, namely Wan Hai Lines, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Interasia Lines and Pacific International Lines (PIL).

The China-West Coast India network will be serviced by six 4,250 teu container vessels, with Wan Hai Lines providing three and the remaining three lines deploying one each.

The new service’s maiden voyage will start on 27 February from China’s Qingdao port and arrive at India’s Nhava Sheva port on 16 March, making it a 42-day fixed round trip schedule.

The port rotation will be Qingdao, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Port Klang (Northport), Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Colombo, Penang, Port Klang (Northport), Hong Kong and back to Qingdao.

Wan Hai Lines said the new service will complement its existing four other West India services with better port coverage and frequency. MOL also said the new service is in addition to its existing Nhava Sheva Karachi Express (NKX) service to enhance coverage between Indian ports and China, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.