Hong Kong-based intra-Asia liner operator SITC International Holdings Company Ltd will start a direct weekly service connecting the fast-growing China/Southeast Asia – India East Coast sector with calls at Visakhapatnam and Chennai ports.
Earlier this year, SITC International Holdings added India to its extensive network with a service call at Kolkata port. The initial association is now being extended to Visakhapatnam and Chennai ports with the launch of the FIE 1 service (Far East India East-Coast 1).
The new service, starting 10 September, will boast a port rotation encompassing Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Port Klang (West).
Bolstered by the potential promised by the Indian trade market, this strategic move is poised to further fortify SITC’s already extensive coverage in Asia, according to an announcement.
Beyond direct port calls, the new service will also cater to inland locations such as Bengaluru, Jaipur and Nepal, with a comprehensive exploration of additional inland destinations in North and Central India.
In India, SITC International Holdings is represented by Eastern Liners Shipping Pvt Ltd (a J M Baxi Group Company) which has an extensive network spanning more than 20 locations, covering all major inland container depots and ports. J M Baxi Group runs a container terminal at Visakhapatnam port.
SITC International Holdings is ranked 13 among global container shipping enterprises by capacity, according to Alphaliner.
It runs 100 vessels, including 89 self-owned ships, operating 72 service routes covering 77 major ports in Mainland China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong China, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Bengal, Myanmar and India.