News / Unifeeder launches direct weekly India-Med container service

As mainline operators continue to confront Red Sea-linked operational challenges, DP World’s shortsea shipping arm, Unifeeder, is raising the bar on its cargo aspirations in the Indian market, opening a direct weekly container service between West India and the Mediterranean.

The India Med Service (IMD) has a 42-day round-trip rotation of Istanbul (Kumport)-Istanbul (Marport)-Izmit (Evyap)-Izmir (Aliaga)-Mersin-Port Said East-Aqaba-Jeddah-Nhava Sheva- Mundra-Jeddah-Aqaba-Port Said East-Alexandria-Kumport.

The first eastbound sailing was scheduled for 5 July, according to a trade advisory.

“This strategic addition strengthens our Indian subcontinent services by enhancing connectivity between India and the Mediterranean region,” Unifeeder said.

The new service positions Unifeeder on a stronger footing in India, it says, and brings additional capacity into the India-Mediterranean trade that has seen a wave of direct Red Sea connections from so-called ‘opportunistic’ regional or feeder lines.

The recent entry of two Turkish carriers, Turkon Line and Arkas Line, highlights that ‘opportunistic’ push.

As a result, a good portion of India-Mediterranean cargo has shifted from the top mainline carriers to regional rivals, due to faster transits and more competitive pricing than services via the Cape of Good Hope, according to industry sources.

Turkon has branded the service Turkiye–Red Sea–India (TRI), with operations handled in India by its Mumbai-based third-party agent, Abrao Group.

The trade pattern for India-Turkey containerised freight seems to be relatively balanced – pegged at some 100,000 teu of exports to Turkey and some 90,000 teu of Turkish shipments to India a year.

Turkon also offers transhipment connections for Indian cargo moving to the US and North Europe via Turkish hub ports.

And it’s looking to expand operations in the longer term.

Other aspiring Asian regional carriers have also set their sights on sending westbound Indian goods through transhipment ports in Turkey, boasting transit time gains.

Singapore-based liner SeaLead recently began offering West India-US east coast coverage via Aliaga, with a service known as Warm. The Asian carrier is claiming transit times of 32 days from Mundra and 34 days from Nhava Sheva to New York.