Safmarine, an A.P. Moller group firm, expects a surge in volume with the launch of a Europe, Middle East and South Asia service named Prime Express, which will cover Pakistan, the Red Sea, India, the Middle East and Europe.
It will start eastbound services from July 21 and westbound from July 28. Its biggest vessel called here on Monday.
Howard Boyd, CEO, who was at Jebel Ali Free Zone, said: "After consulting with customers, Prime Express will use the best network of pipelines, new vessel tonnage and know-how, and combine them with its unique, personalised approach to offer an unbeatable product."
He said with further expansion of fleet and services, the company would boost growth next year.
Safmarine markets its liner shipping services independently from its sister company, Maersk Sealand.
The direct, weekly and twice-weekly service calls offer the fastest shipments for cargo, reducing transit times by up to six days.
For example, Antwerp to Nhava Sheva in Mumbai and Jebel Ali to Rotterdam will take only 20 days, Port Qasim to Bremerhaven just 17 days and Colombo to Le Havre 14 days, said Boyd.
New European calls will include Aahrus, Gothenburg and Le Havre and Fos Sur Mer (Marseille), Valencia, Genoa and Damietta. Direct calls at Jeddah and Colombo are also planned.
A shuttle service will be started from Salalah to Port Quasim and an upgraded network of feeders will connect Aqaba, Chennai and Kolkata faster.
The vessel-share agreement with Maersk will see Safmarine operating two post-Panamax vessels. The first of the two long-term chartered vessels, Safmarine Antwerp - known as the new Mega White - is the largest ever to be painted in its white livery.
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