Maersk's service to cut transit time to US East Coast

Chennai, Mar 16 (UNI) Maersk Line's mother vessel ''Maersk Djibouti'' arrived at the Chennai Port this morning giving the city and South India a direct link to ports on the US East Coast.

Addressing the press here today, Maersk India Private Ltd Vice President Vishal Sharma said ''Maersk Djibouti'' had a maximum capacity of 5,060 TEUs and was the largest container vessel to ever call the Chennai Port.

After loading cargo from the Chennai Port, the vessel was expected to leave on March 17 reducing the transit time ex-Chennai to the US East Coast.

''It's a new weekly direct service from Chennai to the US East Coast with a fixed day sailing,'' he said adding the vessel would call Chennai Port every Friday.

Earlier, cargo out of Chennai and other South and East India locations used to be transshipped to Colombo through feeder networks for onward transportation to the US east coast on a direct service from Colombo, causing longer transit times ex-Chennai, he said.

The vessel would also connect Gulf countries, Africa, Europe and several ports in the US East Coast, Mr Sharma said.

Chennai was the third port to be connected by Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping operator, after it launched direct service to Nhava Sheva Port in Mumbai and Pipara Port in Gujarat, he said. Presently, the company made seven calls to Indian ports.

Introduction of the direct service is expected to bring about substantial change in trade from Chennai by allowing exporters and importers to have their cargo delivered without the need for transshipment in another port, he said.

UNI