CSAV Norasia recently launched a direct Middle East – East Coast South America (ECSA) service complementing the ECSA – South Africa ‘Marco Polo’ service launched a year ago, reports AXS-Alphaliner. The new extended Marco Polo service commenced yesterday (12 August) with the sailing of the VEGA DIAMOND.
The service offers direct sailings northbound from Brazil to Jebel Ali and Damman, the latter Saudi port being a new call, and including a single stop at Durban en route. CSAV Norasia says the new service therefore offers good transit times of between 25 and 27 days for reefer cargoes from Brazil to the Middle East.
This new direct service supersedes the transhipment service over Durban, where Brazil cargoes were transhipped between the ASAX service (Far East – South Africa – ECSA) and the existing ‘Marco Polo’ service, which operated between South Africa – East Africa and the Middle East.
An additional four ships have been added bringing the fleet to eight ships in the 1100- 1800-TEU range and a weekly rotation of Paranagua, Itajai, Santos, Durban, Jebel Ali, Damman, Mombasa/Dar es Salaam, Durban, Paranagua. The time frame is 25 days Santos to Jebel Ali, 26 days Itajai to Jebel Ali and 27 days Paranagua to Jebel Ali.
Existing ships on the old Marco Polo service are Vega Fynen, Conrad S, Tampa Bay and Vega Diamond and they will immediately be joined by the chartered 1800-TEU Santa Maddalena (21,054-gt), with three others to be announced.
The extended ‘Marco Polo’ service becomes the third full container service connecting Brazil directly with the Middle East – the others being the Safmarine/Maersk ‘Samba’ service and CMA CGM’s ‘Vasco Express’.
The service offers direct sailings northbound from Brazil to Jebel Ali and Damman, the latter Saudi port being a new call, and including a single stop at Durban en route. CSAV Norasia says the new service therefore offers good transit times of between 25 and 27 days for reefer cargoes from Brazil to the Middle East.
This new direct service supersedes the transhipment service over Durban, where Brazil cargoes were transhipped between the ASAX service (Far East – South Africa – ECSA) and the existing ‘Marco Polo’ service, which operated between South Africa – East Africa and the Middle East.
An additional four ships have been added bringing the fleet to eight ships in the 1100- 1800-TEU range and a weekly rotation of Paranagua, Itajai, Santos, Durban, Jebel Ali, Damman, Mombasa/Dar es Salaam, Durban, Paranagua. The time frame is 25 days Santos to Jebel Ali, 26 days Itajai to Jebel Ali and 27 days Paranagua to Jebel Ali.
Existing ships on the old Marco Polo service are Vega Fynen, Conrad S, Tampa Bay and Vega Diamond and they will immediately be joined by the chartered 1800-TEU Santa Maddalena (21,054-gt), with three others to be announced.
The extended ‘Marco Polo’ service becomes the third full container service connecting Brazil directly with the Middle East – the others being the Safmarine/Maersk ‘Samba’ service and CMA CGM’s ‘Vasco Express’.