Round-the-world container service commences

Round-the-world container service commences    Norasia Container Lines, China Shipping Container Lines, Zim Israel Navigation Co. and its Hong Kong-based subsidiary Gold Star Line have started their joint weekly westbound “Round-the-World” service.
   The vessel 'Norasia Sindh' made the first sailing on the new service when it departed from the Indian port of Tuticorin on Jan. 14.
   The “Round-the-World” service will use 12 ships of about 3,000 TEUs, with Norasia contributing eight ships.
   The service is one of the few round-the-world container services currently in operation, following the termination of the circumnavigational services of both Evergreen and Senator Lines in recent years.
   The port rotation of the service is Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Chiwan, Singapore, Port Kelang, Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Tuticorin, Colombo, Damietta, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Kingston, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Chiwan, Singapore and Port Kelang.
   The “Round-the-World” service represents an extension of Norasia’s existing Asia/Middle East/Europe “Euro Galex” two-way service, although the new operation will operate only in the westbound direction. Two former partners on that service, MOL and United Arab Shipping Co. are understood to continue taking slots westbound from Norasia between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.