MSC boosts Europe-India trade with introduction of bigger box ships

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SWISS-ITALIAN Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) will now introduce the mega ship to the Europe-India trade, reported Alphaliner.

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MSC boosts Europe-India trade with introduction of bigger box ships

SWISS-ITALIAN Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) will now introduce the mega ship to the Europe-India trade, reported Alphaliner.

This brings a new dimension with the arrival of the 11,000 to 13,000 TEUer in one of the two weekly loops that it operates on the trade.

The 11,660-TEU MSC Francesca has joined the fleet of MSC's Himalaya Express service connecting the Indian subcontinent to Europe, with sister ship MSC Luciana also slated to join, according to Alphaliner Weekly.

Even larger ships, including the MSC Maria Saveria (13,000 TEU) and MSC Cristina (13,102 TEU), are scheduled to follow and these ships are expected to replace the eight 7,850-8,200 TEU vessels so far assigned to the service.

The Himalaya Express turns in eight weeks, calling at Felixstowe, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Gioia Tauro, King Abdullah, Colombo, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, King Abullah, Gioia Tauro and back to Felixstowe.

Seven of the eight ships deployed on the Himalaya Express are now provided by MSC, as its partner Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) recently withdraw the 4,400 TEU SCI Mumbai. The SCI contribution for this service (that it brands as 'ISE') is the 8,540 TEU chartered Seroja Empat.

MSC also operates a second loop (the IPAK service) connecting Pakistan and India with Europe, on which SCI takes slots.