Container shipping line Safmarine is adding a new direct service to its Far East-Indian subcontinent network to improve its coverage of the region.
The new FMX service, which launches on February 17 with the sailing of the vessel Cardonia from Xingang, will connect Northern and Eastern China to main ports in West India and Pakistan, Safmarine said.
"The enhancement of this service is yet another commitment to serving these growing markets," Safmarine trade director Kris Van Den Brande said in a statement.
"Apart from a new direct service from North China (Xingang, Qingdao) and East China (Ningbo) to India (Nhava Sheva) and Pakistan (Karachi), the FMX service will offer our customers improved transit times by an average of five days for shipments from Xingang, Qingdao and Ningbo."
Port rotation for the new FMX service is Xingang - Qingdao - Shanghai - Ningbo - Hong Kong - Singapore - Tanjung Pelepas - Port Klang - Nhava Sheva - Karachi - Colombo.
The new direct service complements Safmarine's existing Asia to the Indian subcontinent routes, such as the Chennai Express, Asian Gulf Service and FM3 Service.
Simatech shipping line will run Safmarine's new FMX service. Safmarine operates under a slot purchasing agreement.
Safmarine is part of the Moller-Maersk group.
