It is reported that since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, most international liner companies have significantly reduced their business in Russia. Recently, a number of Russian freight forwarders have launched their own liner services to connect their domestic ports with ports in China and India.
Inteco and Swift Transport Group, Russian freight forwarders have both established liner subsidiaries to provide regular container shipments between Russia's Vostochny and Chinese ports. In addition, Modul, another Russian freight forwarder has also launched a route service, connecting St. Petersburg Grand Port and Nhava Sheva, India's largest port.
According to reports, Inteco has opened two route services connecting Russia's Vostochny Port and Chinese ports through the establishment of its subsidiary Inteco Lines. The first line service calls at the ports of Vostochny Port, Lianyungang Port, Qingdao Port and Busan Port. The service deploys a 489TEU Shun Yue 19 with a round-trip time of two weeks. Another line service connects Vostochny Port and Ningbo Port, and the deployed ships are "Shun Yue 13" and "Shun Yue 18", each carrying 264 TEUs.
In addition, the route can also pick up goods at other ports in China if required. Inteco Lines said it is planning to add more ships or lease larger ships to increase calls to Shenzhen ports and expand its business.
According to the information, Swift Line, the liner subsidiary of Swift Transport, has opened a regular route service connecting Russia's Vostochny Port with China's Tianjin Port and Taicang Port. The new service deploys a 2007-built multi-purpose vessel "Sol Hongkong" capable of carrying over 650 TEU of cargo, including 30 reefers. Two to three times a month, the delivery time from Vostochny Port to Tianjin Port and Taicang Port is 4 to 5 days.
In addition, Modul, has launched a container service connecting the Grand Port of St. Petersburg with Nhava Sheva, the largest port in India. The service deploys a 1094 TEU vessel with a 25-day lead time.
Alexander Altshuller, CEO of Modul, said it was delighted to launch a pilot project for direct container services between Russia and India and is significantly expanding its container fleet with a view to deploying them on announced routes as well as those planned for later.
Albert Likholet, CEO of Global Ports Group, said: “In recent months, the shortage of container ship capacity in the Baltic region has caused disruptions to international traffic in the northwestern region of Russia. We expect that the new service from Petrolesport to India will be in demand both in import and export."
According to Alphaliner, the fleet capacity of the scheduled intra-European liner service deployed in St. Petersburg has fallen from 96,400 TEU in early February to 15,700 TEU on June 1.
Source: Waihangyun