MELBOURNE : Container Line SeaLead is launching a regular, direct service between the east coast of Australia and the Indian Subcontinent. The service, called ASIA, will connect Australia directly with India and Pakistan, complementing SeaLead’s SAE Australia to China service.
SeaLead will solely operate the new service, deploying two container vessels with a capacity of 4250 TEU each. According to SeaLead’s agent in Australia, Nautical Shipping, further vessels are due to slot into the rotation to increase frequency in the third and fourth quarters of this year.
The service will commence with the phase in of the Ren Jian 26 on 20 March in Port Kelang.
Nautical Shipping Commercial Director Richard Hammond said, “SeaLead continues to expand the scope of services – which is great timing, with Australia’s free trade agreement commencing with India – to benefit our customers and provide a market advantage to all commodity groups.”
The port rotation for the service will be: Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane – Port Kelang (West Port) – Karachi – Mundra – Nhava Sheva – Port Kelang (West Port).
SeaLead was founded in 2017, initially operating feeder services in the Red Sea. It then expanded its feeder services to cover the Middle East, then began services connecting China and the Middle East. It now operates routes that connect East Asia, the US, Mexico and Australia.
According to Alphaliner, it is the 22nd-biggest ocean carrier by TEU capacity with 85,267 TEU.
