Safmarine, Simatech offer Far East-subcontinent service

Time:2011-02-14 Browse:40 Author:RISINGSUN

SAFMARINE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the AP Moller-Maersk Group, is introducing a Far East-Indian Subcontinent service, the FMX, through a slot purchasing agreement with Simatech, the carrier operating the service that links ports in China and south east Asia to west India and Pakistan.

The port rotation for the FMX service is: Xingang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Klang, Nhava Sheva, Karachi, and Colombo.


The first sailing with Safmarine participating in the service will be undertaken by the vessel named Cardonia, which is scheduled to depart from Xingang on February 17.


Safmarine`s trade director Kris Van Den Brande said in a company 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, an average of five days for shipments from Xingang, Qingdao and Ningbo."


According to ComPair Data, Safmarine already takes slots on two other China-India services, namely the FM3 loop jointly operated by Maersk Line and CMA CGM, as well as Maersk`s Chennai Express.


The port rotation for the Chennai Express is Busan, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chennai and back to Busan.


The port rotation for the FM3 is Kwangyang, Busan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Da Chan Bay, Tanjung Pelepas, Pipavav, Jawaharlal Nehru, Port Qasim, Port Klang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kwangyang.


Safmarine added it offers a third Asia-subcontinent service, the Asia Gulf service, with a port rotation of Laem Chabang, Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Klang, Colombo, Jebel Ali, Karachi, Mundra, Colombo, Port Klang, Singapore, returning to Laem Chabang.