MSC to transship North Europe/Oceania cargo

MSC to transship North Europe/Oceania cargo    Mediterranean Shipping Co. said this week it will alter the way it serves the North Europe-to-Australia trade by transshipping in the Mediterranean instead of providing direct service.
   MSC will truncate its existing Australia/Europe service, which also calls ports in the Indian Islands, by leaving off port calls in northern Europe. Cargo from northern Europe destined for Australia will instead be relayed to MSC's transshipment hub of Gioia Tauro via the line's Asia-Europe Lion service.
   Northbound shipments from Australia to northern Europe will be handled on MSC's recently launched Oceania-U.S. West Coast service, via transshipment in Balboa, connecting to northern Europe.
   The shortened Europe/Australia service will have a southbound rotation of Gioia Tauro, Pointe des Galets, Port Louis, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle, according to the line. Other Australian ports will be served via transshipment in Sydney.
   MSC didn't offer a direct return leg from the Indian Ocean Islands port in Reunion and Mauritius, so that trade will continue to be served via transshipment in South Africa.
   MSC's new transshipment arrangement in Europe will actually shorten transit times from northern Europe to Oceania. For instance, it said transit times from Felixstowe to Sydney will be 37 days, compared to 48 on the existing direct service, according to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data.
   The service change is effective Sept. 17 from Felixstowe.