CMA CGM, CONTSHIP AND SCI BEGIN DIRECT U.S. EAST COAST/INDIAN SUBCONTINENT SERVICE

CMA CGM, CONTSHIP AND SCI BEGIN DIRECT U.S. EAST COAST/INDIAN SUBCONTINENT SERVICE

CMA CGM, CONTSHIP AND SCI BEGIN DIRECT U.S. EAST COAST/INDIAN SUBCONTINENT SERVICE

   CMA CGM, Contship Containerlines and Shipping Corporation of India have commenced a previously-announced direct service from the Indian subcontinent to the U.S. East Coast and the Mediterranean.
   The first ship of the “Indamex” service sailed from Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 8 and from Nhava Sheva, India, on March 12. The ship is scheduled to arrive in New York on April 2.
   The service provides a westbound transit time of 21 days from Nhava Sheva/Mumbai to New York.
   The service is one of only three direct services between Mumbai and the U.S. East Coast. National Shipping Corp. of Saudi Arabia and Hoegh Lines also operate direct Indian/U.S. East Coast services, while all other operators provide transhipment services to and from the Indian ports.
   Initially, the service of CMA CGM, Contship and Shipping Corporation of India has a fortnightly sailing frequency, but it will be improved to weekly as new vessels are phased in throughout the year.
   The service has a rotation of New York, Norfolk, Charleston or Savannah, Gioia Tauro, Port Said, Jeddah, Colombo, Mumbai, New York, Norfolk and Charleston or Savannah. The carriers have not yet decided whether to call at Charleston or Savannah.
   The transit times of the new service are available from the free global shipping database ComPairSchedules at http://www.compairschedules.com.