News / Ambitious feeder operator Safeen shifts its focus to SE Asia liner service

Credit: VesselFinder

Safeen Feeders, Abu Dhabi Ports’ shipping subsidiary, is moving beyond its original focus on the Middle East and the sub-continent to South-east Asian markets.

It has joined CMA CGM’s India East Coast Express 2 service, with its 2,034 teu Safeen Pioneer joining the French carrier’s 1,732 teu Songa Tiger. on the route, calling at Singapore, Port Klang, Colombo and Chennai.

It is Safeen’s first service to call in South-east Asia, which signifies its growth since its incorporation in 2020, said the company.

ADPorts started Safeen to improve container shipping links between Khalifa, the Arabian Gulf and South Asia, and to carry containers to and from mainline operators calling at ADPorts terminals.

At the time, Safeen said it would develop its services with Singapore-based feeder operator Bengal Tiger Line, starting with a UAE-Indian Subcontinent-Arabian Gulf service. It launched UAE coastal services in October last year.

Safeen said it had now assumed full ownership of all its feeder services and commercial activities, ending its collaboration with Bengal Tiger Line. It has also been gradually building its fleet through second-hand purchases and now owns 11 containerships.

This month, Safeen bought its largest ship to date, the 2011-built 3,400 teu Safeen Power, for $65m and is now ranked 54^th among liner operators, with a total operating capacity of 16,170 teu.