Maersk Line launches direct service to Europe from India

Mumbai, Feb 21 (PTI) Container shipper Maersk Linetoday said it has launched a new service from south and eastIndia to north Europe.

The service, ICON (India, Colombo, north Europe) willhave a direct, dedicated and fast coverage from Chennai tonorth Europe, a company release said here.

The ICON service will deploy 7x3,400 TEU vessels andoperate with the following port rotation - Chennai-Colombo-Salalah-Zeebrugge-Felixstowe-Rotterdam-Bremerhaven-Salalah-Colombo, it said.

Maersk Line Managing Director (India and Sri Lanka)Rizwan Soomar said "with excellent transit times from Chennaito Felixstowe (UK), this is a fast product and well-suited forall our customers in time-sensitive industries like appareland retail.

This also addresses our customers'' long-standingdemand for a direct product from south India to Europe whichhelps in achieving better efficiency in supply-chains andreducing overheads for our customers."

The service also boasts of carrying special hanginggarments containers to ensure garments arrive in goodcondition, ready to place directly into retail outlets.

The service will also provide a wide coverage of theScandinavian and Russian markets via Bremerhaven, Germany,the release said, adding the first vessel from Chennai isscheduled for March 14.