Shipping line Safmarine has upgraded its existing Far East - Indian Subcontinent portfolio by introducing a new direct service, which will connect Asia with main ports in Wwest India and Pakistan.

The service starts on February 17 with the sailing of the vessel, Cardonia, from Xingang. The service is run by Simatech with Safmarine operating under a slot purchasing agreement.

"The FMX service will offer our customers improved transit times, for example, by an average of five days for shipments from Xingang, Qingdao and Ningbo," said trade director Kris van den Brande.

Port rotation for the new direct Far East - Indian Subcontinent Service (FMX) is Xingang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Klang, Nhava Sheva, Karachi, Colombo.

The FMX Service's direct calls in Xingang, Qingdao and Ningbo complement Safmarine's existing range of services from Asia to the Indian Subcontinent:

- Chennai Express: Busan - Shanghai - Xiamen - Chennai - Busan

- Asia Gulf Service: Laem Chabang - Singapore - Tanjung Pelepas - Port Klang - Colombo - Jebel Ali - Karachi - Mundra - Colombo - Port Klang - Singapore - Laem Chabang.

- FM3 Service: Kwangyang - Busan - Shanghai - Hong Kong - Da Chan Bay - Tanjung Pelepas - Pipavav - Jawaharlal Nehru - Port Qasim - Port Klang - Singapore - Hong Kong - Kwangyang.

Source: CargonewsAsia.