Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines will partner with Singapore-based Pacific International Line and Zim subsidiary, Mauritius-based Laurel Navigation, on the trade between the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa.
From July, each company will provide three ships on two services. One of the loops, MRX, at present operated solely by MOL, will discontinue calls at South Africa and become dedicated to the East Africa market.
“The move allows MOL to stabilize ship schedules with less exposure to serious congestion at ports in South Africa and East Africa,” the Tokyo-based carrier said in a statement.
The revised MRX service will operate on a weekly basis using four 1,200-TEU ships with a port rotation of Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and back to Karachi.
At the same time, the carriers will combine on a 12-day service for South and West Africa. Using five 1,200-TEU ships, the service will have a rotation of Jebel Ali, Nhava Sheva, Durban, Lagos, Cotonou, Tema, Cape Town, Durban and Jebel Ali.
“The addition of regular calls at Cape Town on return voyages will allow MOL to offer competitive service, especially for reefer cargo, which is a dominant commodity in that market. And by using its established service network centered on South Africa, MOL will offer a variety of services including reefer service from the East Coast of South America to the UAE,” MOL said.
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