by Priya Radünzel, SeaNewsEditor
Container shipping companies adjust their services in response to market dynamics and operational hurdles. Stay informed of upcoming changes with Kuehne+Nagel's carrier service update, published bi-weekly on Sea News and seaexplorer.
CMA CGM resumes Cape of Good Hope route on INDAMEX service
In mid-October, French carrier CMA CGM announced plans to route its INDAMEX service via the Suez Canal. However, the carrier later reversed this decision, opting to sail its vessels around Southern Africa instead. This change was announced before any vessel on this service followed the Suez Canal route.
”CMA CGM has decided to continue the Indamex service via (the) Cape of Good Hope routing with the same service schedule,” according to an advisory issued by the carrier. “This is applicable for the current vessel CMA CGM Pelleas.”
CMA CGM Pelleas, currently on its westbound voyage, is sailing to Mundra and is expected to arrive at the port later today, 18 November.
The INDAMEX covers the route between the Indian Subcontinent and the US East Coast, with transit times between 31-33 days from Mundra to New York.
For a comparison of the service's planned and realistic transit times, refer to Kuehne+Nagel's seaexplorer.
New & revised services
Asia ↔ Europe
Effective January 2025, Hapag-Lloyd will revise the port rotation of the CGX service by extending its port coverage in Asia and Europe. The port call in Antwerp will be dropped and replaced by Rotterdam. In addition, Southampton, Yangshan (Shanghai) and Ningbo will be added to the rotation This service takes on the cargo that is currently being shipped on the FE9 service, with its last sailing from Qingdao on 30 December 2024.
- Carrier service name: CGX
- Port rotation: Yangshan - Ningbo - Yantian - Singapore - Tema - Southampton - Rotterdam - Wilhelmshaven - Yangshan
- First sailing: Copiapo, ETD Yangshan, 3 January 2025
Asia ↔ North America
Effective this month, CMA CGM will amend the port rotation of the EXX service, which links Asia to the North American West Coast, by omitting the port calls at Busan and Dutch Harbor until further notice.
- Carrier service name: EXX
- Port rotation: Los Angeles - Oakland - Honolulu (fortnightly) - Gwangyang - Ningbo - Shanghai - Los Angeles
- First sailing: CMA CGM Florida, ETD Los Angeles, 22 November 2024
In February 2025, Maersk will revise the port rotation of the MECL service by dropping the direct call at Port Qasim. Cargo to and from Port Qasi will be routed via Salalah.
- Carrier service name: MECL
- Port rotation: Jebel Ali, Pipavav - Nhava Sheva - Salalah - Algeciras - Newark - Charleston - Savannah - Houston - Norfolk - Newark - Algeciras - Salalah - Jebel Ali
- Last direct export call from Port Qasim: Maersk Sentosa, ETD Port Qasim, 29 January 2025
- Last direct import call from Port Qasim: Maersk Santosa, ETD Newark, 27 December 2024
Asia ↔ Middle East
At the beginning of December, ONE will launch a weekly service from Pakistan to the Middle East.
- Carrier service name: Pakistan Gulf Express (PGX)
- Port rotation: Karachi - Jebel Ali - Hamad - Dammam - Karachi
- First sailing: Addison, ETA Karachi 2 December 2024
Intra Europe
Effective later this month, Hapag-Lloyd will revise the port rotation of the JDX service by calling Turkey and Morocco before Valencia on the westbound voyage.
- Carrier service name: JDX
- Port rotation: Jeddah - Damietta - Mersin - Izmit - Tangier - Antwerp - Valencia - Damietta - Jeddah
- First sailing: Synergy Antwerp, ETD Jeddah, 23 November 2024
Early next year, ONE will launch two new services connecting West and East Mediterranean as follows:
- Carrier service name: AD1
- Port rotation: Koper - Venice - Piraeus - Thessaloniki - Alexandria - Damietta - Koper
- First sailing: TBA, ETD Koper, 31 December 2024.
- Carrier service name: AD2
- Port rotation: Piraeus - Koper - Trieste - Venice - Ravenna - Ancona - Piraeus - Abu Qir - Limassol - Beirut - Piraeus
- First sailing: TBA
For more point-to-point service options, including transit times across major ocean carriers, refer to seaexplorer.
