MSC Expands and Upgrades Far East Service

Mediterranean Shipping Company will launch this week a new and separate Far East/Medterraneanservice, the Dragon Service, utilizing 8 vessels of approximately 2200 TEU capacity and with a port rotation as follows: Shanghai, Xiamen, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Valencia, Barcelona, Fos, La Spezia, Jebel Ali, Singapore, Chiwan, Shanghai. This service improvement is in response to continuing strong demand from the market and to absorb additional cargoes. This continuing expansion by MSC in the Far East is a logical progression of our service network in the region, said Caroline Becquart, Liner Manager responsible for Far East services. It will give our customers a greater choice and enhanced flexibility. The new service is due to be launched on September 19 from Shanghai and will complement the existing Silk Service which will continue to operate ten vessels of 6700 TEU capacity on a slightly modified port rotation: LeHavre, Antwerp, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Felixstowe, Piraeus, Jebel Ali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai/Xiamen, Quindao, Xingang, Busan, Ningbo, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Piraeus, and LeHavre. These schedule changes will provide better transit times to key North European Ports on the Silk Service and will also include direct calls to both Bremerhaven and Hamburg, in response to customer demand. The improved service network between the Far East and the European and Mediterranean markets will enable MSC to meet market demand in the region and continue to provide excellent connections to MSC’s unparalleled service network through MSCs dedicated transhipment hubs at Singapore, Jebel Ali, Valencia, Piraeus, Felixstowe, LeHavre and Antwerp. For more information, contact your local MSC office.