SIMIC

Marcus Hand | Sep 12, 2022

Its first China service connects the UAE with China and was launched with the recently acquired 3,400 teu SAFEEN Power.

The monthly service will connect the Chinese ports of Shanghai, Qingdao and Ningbo directly with Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi.

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China is among the UAE’s top commercial partners, with bilateral commerce between China and the UAE exceeding US$75.6 billion in 2021.

Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, Acting CEO - Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group, AD Ports Group, said: “China-UAE trade is predicted to continue to grow significantly over the coming period, and this monthly service will support faster delivery times and provide greater efficiency.”

Related: Safeen Feeders adds containership for UAE coastal service

It follows a move by SAFEEN Feeders to move into the Indian sub-continent – Southeast Asia feeder market with CMA CGM. The new service links Singapore, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Chennai, India.

The UAE company is deploying the 2,034 SAFEEN Pioneer on the service joining CMA CGM’s Songa Tiger.

Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, commented: “This service connects key global markets with some of the busiest ports in the world and will help boost trade and improve delivery times. Our aim is to provide key services across the seas where our customers need them most, and today’s announcement demonstrates the breadth of our international ambitions.” 

The new services join SAFEEN Feeders existing UAE/Sudan service launched in 2022, and the UAE Coastal/Oman and UAE/India/Gulf services. The company launched in 2020 now has a capacity of 600,000 teu a year.