SIMIC

SAFETRANS Line has launched a liner service that links China with Morocco and Russia, joining many other newcomers on the Russian lane, reports London's Loadstar.
According to Linerlytica, the St Petersburg direct service calls at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Tangier (irregular), St Petersburg, and Qingdao.
It recently began with the newly chartered 3,469-TEU Heng Hui 2.
Meanwhile, three chartered ships from Zhonggu Logistics will soon join the loop, as will three more in April to boost frequency.
"One year after the Russia-Ukraine conflict started on February 24, 2022, there have been significant shifts in the Russian container shipping landscape after sanctions shut off most of the traditional Baltic trade to Russia," said Linerlytica.
Players unfazed by sanctions targeting Russia have leapt into the fray, with newcomers such as Safetrans, Torgmoll, Reel Shipping and OVP Shipping.
Congestion at the Russian Far East gateways of Vladivostok and Vostochny generated demand for new services from Asia to the Black Sea and Baltic gateways of Novorossiysk and St Petersburg.
"The Russian market is booming due to high cargo demand, with the Vladivostok gateway currently severely congested and carriers are opening new services to the Black Sea and Baltic gateways. Depending on which gateway, rates are highly elevated, starting from $6,000/FEU," said Linerlytica analyst Tan Hua Joo.
Linerlytica estimates that 89 ships totalling 92,000 TEU serve the Russia Far East trade.
Russian container carriers have been acquiring tonnage to meet healthy demand, even as the overall freight market is bleak.