Swahili Express Service News

CMA CGM informs that its Swahili Express service operated between India/Middle East and East Africa changes.   The new service rotation works out to shorter voyage duration: 28 days with 4 vessels up to 3,400 TEU nominal capacity.   Its Djibouti Northbound call is cancelled: last vessel is m/v NORO voy. 2322SN, expected at Djibouti berth on March 10th, 2018.   Kenyan export cargo to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the USA is routed via Colombo (Sri Lanka) with reliable transit times.   Rotation: Nhava Sheva - Mundra - Khor Fakkan - Jebel Ali - Mombasa - Dar Es Salaam - Nhava Sheva

To better respond to our customers’ needs in the dynamic East Africa market, CMA CGM will upgrade and broaden its service offering connecting India and Middle East Gulf to East Africa. Swahili Express service remains unchanged. A wide range of intermodal solutions to Eastern Africa domestic and cross border destinations service offering is proposed by CMA CGM Group in addition to the maritime services.

Swahili Express service will be dedicated to Kenya and Tanzania markets with very fast transit times. Mombasa will be reached from Mundra in 12 days and Dar Es Salaam in 14 days. Noura Express service will have an improved transit time to Somalia by 4 days. Mogadishu port will be reached in 7 days from Jebel Ali and in 17 days from Mundra. SWAHILI service:  As from m/v CHIEF at Nhava Sheva on February 24th, 2017, Swahili service will be operated with 4 vessels. We will add Mombasa direct call in complement to the current Dar Es Salaam call. The port coverage at origin will be upgraded with 2 direct port calls in India. Longoni and Zanzibar calls are discontinued.

CMA CGM has announced the strengthening of its current MIDAS service by cooperating with PIL under a new Vessel Sharing Agreement. A fleet of 11 vessels of 3,500 TEU nominal capacity will be deployed, and CMA CGM will contribute to the majority with 9 vessels. It also announced the strengthening of its coverage of India on its SWAHILI EXPRESS service deployed on the India Middle East Gulf - Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean route. In India, MIDAS will extend its coverage with a weekly call at Nhava Sheva direct to West Africa, South Africa and Reunion Island in addition to the present Mundra call. Luanda is reached from India in 22 days, Pointe Noire in 25 days, Apapa in 30 days and Cotonou in 31 days.

MacAndrews is set to add the 930 TEU Cape Bonavista to its Swahili Express Service which provides a fixed-day fortnightly service between the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East/Gulf and East Africa. Serving alongside CMA CGM Karibu, Cape Bonavista replaces Hanseduo in the service which calls at Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa and Karachi with a 28-day round voyage time. With 80 reefer plugs, Cape Bonavista will support MacAndrews' increasing commitment to carrying fresh produce in refrigerated units. "Creating a homogenous vessel fleet for our Swahili Express service has been a priority. Cape Bonavista is a faster ship that will help us ensure schedule integrity on the service,” said Jim Robb, General Manager, Indian Trades.

MacAndrews has upgraded the existing tonnage on its Swahili Express Service, which provides a regular container service between the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East/Gulf and East Africa, with a more modern, faster vessel. The new ship, MacAndrews SWALA, is 1100 teu capacity and is one of two vessels in the service which has a nine-day sailing frequency and calls at Khor Fakkan, Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa with a 28-day round voyage time. With 100 reefer plugs, the new vessel supports MacAndrews' increasing commitment to carrying fresh produce in refrigerated units. MacAndrews SWALA is flagged in Panama and was built in 1994. The ship has a deadweight of 15,170 tonnes, a nominal capacity of 1,107 teu (including 100 reefer plugs) and a speed of 18.5 knots.

MacAndrews has upgraded the existing tonnage on its Swahili Express Service, which provides a regular container service between the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East/Gulf and East Africa, with a new vessel. The new ship, MacAndrews SWALA, is 1100 teu capacity and is one of two vessels in the service which has a nine-day sailing frequency and calls at Khor Fakkan, Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa with a 28-day round voyage time. Salaam and 13 days to Mombasa. Northbound, from Mombasa the service offers a 8-day return transit to Karachi. MacAndrews SWALA is flagged in Panama and was built in 1994. The ship has a deadweight of 15,170 tonnes, a nominal capacity of 1,107 teu (including 100 reefer plugs) and a speed of 18.5 knots.