Regional Container Lines (RCL) has joined the RCS/RCX container service connecting the Far East and the Red Sea, strengthening its footprint on one of Asia’s key regional trade lanes.
The service is jointly operated by Global Feeder Shipping and T.S. Lines, with RCL marketing its participation under the RCR01 service name.
The weekly service deploys seven container vessels with an average capacity of around 3,500 TEUs each. The port rotation includes Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Shenzhen (Shekou), Ain Sokhna, Jeddah, before returning to Qingdao.
RCL said the partnership enhances its presence in the Far East–Red Sea trade while expanding the joint network’s regional coverage and service offerings. The move is expected to provide customers with improved connectivity and additional shipping options between East Asia and the Middle East.
Established in 1979, RCL began operations with a container service between Bangkok and Singapore and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1988. Since then, the carrier has expanded its network across Asia and the Middle East.
Today, RCL operates a fleet of 46 container vessels with a combined capacity of approximately 191,400 TEUs, serving trade routes across Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, South Asia, the Middle East, the Red Sea, and East Africa.
The carrier continues to strengthen its intra-Asia network through regular liner services, competitive transit times, modern vessels, and enhanced digital customer service. Its fleet, ranging from 400 TEUs to 12,000 TEUs, is managed by RCL Shipmanagement, with the company maintaining International Safety Management (ISM) Code certification across its owned fleet since 1998, well ahead of the mandatory implementation in 2002.
