MSC extends Med hubs on Far East-Middle East run

GENEVA's Mediterranean Shipping Company has enhanced its Far East-to-Middle East service by adding two vessels and extend the loop to call on Valencia in Spain and Gioia Tauro in Italy with eight 2,500- to 3,000-TEU ships.

The maiden voyage of the New Falcon Service begins with the sailing of the MSC Clementina from Salalah in Oman on April 12, and will mark the commencement of a revised rotation: Singapore, Bandar Abbas, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Jubail, Jebel Ali, Salalah, Gioia Tauro, Valencia, Salalah, Colombo and back to Singapore.

The service will provide a double-dip service into the Far East and Middle East and Med-Middle East strings alongside its MSC's Far East-Mediterranean "Dragon" and "Tiger" loops to Singapore, according to the weekly newsletter from Paris-based Alphaliner.

"The enhanced New Falcon Service will allow improved coverage and better transit times between the Middle East and the West Mediterranean, as well as providing excellent connections to the east Med, Adriatic and Black Sea ports via Gioia Tauro and to the north continent, South America, north and westAfrican ports via Valencia," said a company statement.

(Source: Sea Trade Asia)