SIMIC

DANISH shipping giant Maersk is reportedly considering combining its two services serving Indian trades to adjust capacity in line with current market conditions.

According to industry sources, the Jade Express Service, a shuttle service connecting ports in the subcontinent, will soon merge into the FI3 (Far East-India) service, according to Greece's Container News.



Ahead of that change, the FI3 port rotation is being expanded with new calls at Mundra (India) and Karachi (Pakistan), sources said. The Mundra call has already been announced by the carrier, while another trade update is expected shortly.



The combined FI3 Service will rotate Qingdao, Xingang, Busan, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Klang, Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Pipavav, Karachi (to be declared), Mundra, Colombo, Port Klang and Singapore.



The Jade Express currently calls at Karachi, Mundra, Pipavav and Colombo.



"In our ongoing commitment to enhance our product offerings, with a strong focus on bolstering schedule reliability, we have expanded our vessel deployment from six to seven," Maersk said in a recent customer advisory.



The carrier further noted: "This change significantly enhances our service capacity in both directions connecting the Far East and the India Subcontinent. This advancement is aimed at providing seamless connectivity and improved accessibility to these vital trade routes."



Maersk earlier this year revamped its Middle East-West Africa network, replacing the ME3 and ME4 service with a redesigned loop, branded as the 'Al Maha'.



"The UAE-West Africa market will also benefit largely from the enhanced capacity of Al Maha service," the Danish carrier noted.



Maersk also added: "With the expectation of higher schedule reliability and predictability from this service, customers will be able to plan their supply chains well in advance and, in return, serve their end-users better."



Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has also implemented a slew of service network changes on trades out of India. The Geneva-based carrier recently reintroduced Indian calls on its Sentosa Service that connects Asia-US West Coast trade.



The expanded Sentosa rotation is Port Klang, Singapore, Laem Chabang, Vung Tau, Busan, Long Beach, Oakland, Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Colombo, Mundra, Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Colombo and Port Klang.