A new container service connecting India and East Africa will launch in September, deploying five 2 800-TEU vessels on the route.
The Gulf-India-East Africa (GIA) service would be jointly operated by HMM, COSCO Shipping, Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Interasia Lines, announced HMM.
The service will follow a rotation of Nhava Sheva-Mundra-Dar es Salaam-Mombasa-Nhava Sheva, providing connections to two of East Africa's major maritime gateways.
The maiden voyage is scheduled to depart from Nhava Sheva in the fourth week of September.
Nhava Sheva and Mundra would serve as regional hubs for cargo from India and Central Asia destined for East African markets, said HMM.
The partners also plan to extend the service rotation to the Gulf region.
The GIA service will be HMM's second African feeder network under its hub-and-spoke strategy, following the introduction of its Mediterranean-West Africa 2 (MA2) service.
The addition of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa will expand HMM's coverage in East Africa, where port infrastructure and inland logistics networks continue to develop.
“With the introduction of the GIA service, HMM anticipates providing our customers with more efficient and reliable sea transportation,” the carrier said.
The company plans to continue expanding its presence in the region and broaden its service portfolio.
