Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is set to strengthen its connectivity with key Middle Eastern and Red Sea markets following a major revamp of Emirates Shipping Line’s (ESL) South Red Sea (SRS) and North Red Sea (NRS) services, with Nhava Sheva emerging as a key port of call in both rotations.
Effective November 1, ESL has restructured its South Red Sea (SRS) service into a dedicated shuttle connecting Nhava Sheva in Maharashtra with Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Dynaliners.
The revamped SRS service will operate on a Nhava Sheva–Jeddah–Nhava Sheva rotation, deploying two vessels with capacities ranging from 1,800 TEUs to 2,600 TEUs at approximately nine-day intervals.
The development is expected to provide more direct and regular container connectivity between India’s western coast and Saudi Arabia, potentially supporting trade flows between the two markets.
JNPA will also feature in ESL’s revamped North Red Sea (NRS) service, which connects India with several strategic ports across the Red Sea and the Middle East. The revised rotation will cover Nhava Sheva, Djibouti, Aqaba in Jordan, Ain Sokhna in Egypt and Sohar in Oman before returning to Nhava Sheva.
The NRS service will deploy two vessels ranging from 1,700 TEUs to 2,500 TEUs, operating at approximately fortnightly intervals.
The latest changes follow the earlier inclusion of Jeddah in the SRS service, alongside Mundra and Djibouti, as reported in June. However, it remains unclear whether Mundra will be accommodated under a separate ESL service or has been withdrawn from the carrier’s Red Sea network.
Meanwhile, the move comes amid renewed efforts by major container shipping lines to cautiously resume trans-Suez operations following disruptions in the Red Sea.
On November 2, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced plans to restore trans-Suez sailings for vessels deployed under their ME1 service, operated through the Gemini Cooperation. The move will replace the longer Cape of Good Hope routing, helping reduce transit times and fuel consumption.
JNPA has been retained in the revamped ME1 rotation, alongside Mundra. The revised service will follow the rotation: Mundra–Nhava Sheva–Salalah–Suez Canal–Tangier–Rotterdam–Wilhelmshaven–Hamburg–London–Algeciras–Tangier–Suez Canal–Salalah–Mundra.
Maersk said the two carriers would continue to closely monitor the security situation in the Middle East, adding that any changes to services under the Gemini Cooperation would remain dependent on sustained stability in the Red Sea region.
The first westbound ME1 transit through the Suez Canal is scheduled to be undertaken by the Liberia-flagged Atlanta Express (IMO 9667162), departing Salalah on November 4. The first eastbound transit is scheduled to be undertaken by Savannah Express (IMO 9665607), departing Tangier on November 13.
The parallel developments involving ESL and the Gemini Cooperation signal a potential improvement in JNPA’s connectivity with the Red Sea, Gulf and European markets. If the return to Suez Canal transits is sustained, Indian exporters and importers could benefit from shorter shipping routes, improved service connectivity and potentially more competitive logistics costs.