MSC routes GGS service back through Suez

MSC routes GGS service back through Suez    Liner carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. said over the weekend it is rearranging the rotation and routing of a service connecting the U.S. East Coast to the Far East so that it provides a direct connection to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
   The line will amend its GGS service by sailing from the U.S. East Coast through the Suez Canal to Jeddah (on the Red Sea). The service previously returned from North America to Asia via the Cape of Good Hope. MSC said the service will now sail non-stop direct to Jeddah and was changed 'in response to requests from clients and the shipping public for quicker transit times to the Red Sea, Gulf and the Middle East markets.'
   According to ComPair Data, the service sails westbound through the Suez before calling at New York, Baltimore and Savannah, then returning to Asia via the Bahamas then around Africa. The first Asia call on the eastbound leg is in Colombo. MSC said routing the service back through the Suez would provide much better eastbound transit times. The service is operated with 12 MSC ships with 5,974 TEUs of capacity on average.
   The service will change as of Nov. 10.