News

We, MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s second-largest container liner operator, have expanded our area of operations to connect South India to our worldwide liner network.The Ports of Chennai, Tuticorin and Cochin are thus scheduled to join the MSC network on February 2.

In a prelude to the commencement, the vessel MSC Korea had last week called at the Chennai Container Terminal (CCT) to discharge over 1,300 empty containers.

The South Indian ports will initially be connected through reliable common carrier feeders, with whom MSC has tied up to tranship the boxes to its main line vessels in Colombo.Ex-Colombo, MSC will be accepting cargo to a wide range of destinations such as the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, North Africa, North-West Continent-UK, the Adriatic, West Africa, East and West Coasts of South America, Mexico, US East Coast/Gulf and a few ports in the US Pacific.

Similarly, it will route all imports via Colombo from various ports of origin worldwide to the fast-growing Southern India market i.e. Cochin, Chennai & Tuticorin.MSC will also be accepting cargo from all hinterland points in South India.

MSC also has plans to extend the coverage to other ports on the East Coast at a later date.Also proposed is operating MSC's own feeders to connect to its main line vessels in Colombo, or even bringing in one of its main line service vessels to either Chennai or Cochin Ports.

MSC has its own agency set-up in India, including own offices in Kochi and Tuticorin. In Chennai, Samsara Shipping represents MSC.As of today, MSC offers four direct services from the West Coast of India to various global destinations:

• Africa service (MICT-NSICT-Africa)

• Europe-Med service (MICT-NSICT-Europe)

• Lion service from NSICT to Far East-China

• Falcon service from Far East to NSICT-Arabian Gulf

• In addition, ex Mundra Gulf cargo is loaded on African vessels via Jebel Ali and Far East via Port Qasim to connect main line vessels.

The Falcon service commenced operations in November 2005.MSC operates all these services independently and has plans to expand its liner service network. It accepts cargo to and from all inland container depots (ICDs) and hinterland cargo centres.

Incidentally, MSC was the first global container line to commence services from MICT in mid-2003.Currently operating 270 container vessels, with an intake capacity of 750,000 TEUs, MSC provides an unparalleled service network via dedicated own offices throughout the world and remains a truly independent and private company, able to respond quickly to market changes and implement long-term plans without unnecessary interference or delay.

MSC believes in the importance of operating as an independent carrier, responding quickly to customer needs with prompt, effective and global solutions. With MSC, one deals with a single, global and highly-specialised company which is able to provide the necessary answers to all the specific transportation requirements of clients.