Mediterranean Shipping Company Enhances Container Freight Services Across the World

AUSTRALIA – ASIA – EUROPE – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced enhancements to its container freight services with the addition of a new line connecting the Far East with the Red Sea, and a revision to its Australia Express Service (AES), which will see transit times to the North West Continent ports of Europe slashed, improving its current service offerings out of Australia and the Indian subcontinent.

From November 6, the MSC Pilar will be the first of eight 4,800 TEU vessels to initiate the Petra Express service, sailing from Ningbo, China, and operate on a loop calling at:

Ningbo – Shanghai – Nansha – Shekou – Singapore – Colombo – Salalah – Djibouti – King Abdullah Port – Sokhna Port – Al’Aqabah – King Abdullah Port – Salalah – Singapore – Ningbo

MSC has already taken steps to reinforce its feeder network out of both Salalah and King Abdullah Port. The company has advised customers that cargo originating in Australia and New Zealand that is bound for the Red Sea will now be routed via Singapore.

The revised AES route out of Australia will ensure better and faster coverage for cargo loaded in Colombo bound for Europe, by omitting the ports of Salalah, Djibouti and King Abdullah Port, and offering a direct call from Colombo to Gioia Tauro, Italy, a key Mediterranean hub.

The first vessel on the revised route, MSC India, is expected to depart Sydney on 30 October 2017. The full rotation will be:

Melbourne – Adelaide – Fremantle – Singapore – Colombo – Suez – Gioia Tauro – Valencia - London Gateway – Antwerp – Le Havre – Fos-Sur-Mer – La Spezia – Naples - Gioia Tauro – Suez – Pointe De Gallets – Port Louis – Sydney – Melbourne

Photo: The MSC India under way.