MOL Revamps Asia Services

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has upgraded its two services NKX (Strait/India/Pakistan Service) and CHS3 (Japan/Hong Kong/Strait Service) that will be combined into one new service named HSX and jointly operated with Taiwanese shipping company Wan Hai Lines.

The new service will create a direct link between Japan/Vietnam and West Coast India/Pakistan, together with its existing CIS (China-West Coast India Service). MOL says it will ensure stable and wider connectivity between Japan, South China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and West Coast India.

The new service’s maiden voyage is to commence from Osaka port on May 30 and arrive in Nhava Sheva on June 20, 2016. It will be a 49-day fixed round trip schedule.

The companies will deploy seven 4,250 TEU vessels on the route, with MOL operating five of them and Wan Hai two.

Wan Hai Lines says the new service will help to complement its existing 5 other India/Pakistan services with better port coverage and frequency.