Shippers traveling between India and Europe who are experiencing periodic schedule problems now have the option of connecting some cargo via transshipment options via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s main gateway. Mediterranean Shipping Co. has added a direct call at Jeddah to its flagship Himalaya Express (HEX) Service between West India and Europe, which employs the most tonnage on that trade path, with vessel sizes averaging over 10,000 TEU.
The Jeddah call joins HEX’s other two Middle Eastern ports of call, King Abdullah and Salalah. Colombo, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Salalah, Jeddah, King Abdullah, Gioia Tauro, Valencia, Felixstowe, Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg are on the new full itinerary. “Cargo from around the world for import to Jeddah may be carried on MSC’s global network of 260+ trade routes and transshipped at the main hubs of NWC [the northwest continent of] Europe, as well as Gioia Tauro and King Abdullah port,” the Geneva-based liner said in an advisory. “To reach destinations, export cargo from Jeddah may be transshipped via King Abdullah port, Valencia, and NWC Europe hubs.”
