French container shipping company CMA CGM plans to launch two new weekly services, EPIC 1 and EPIC 2, between the Arab Gulf, Pakistan, North West India and North Europe, in addition to the existing Epic service on this route.
EPIC 1 will offer a direct connection between North Europe, Pakistan and North West India. In partnership with Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) and United Arab Shipping Company S.A.G. (UASC), the rotation will be as follows:
Mundra – King Abdullah – Gioia Tauro – Tanger – Southampton – Rotterdam –Antwerp – Felixstowe –Dunkirk – Le Havre – King Abdullah – Djibouti – Port Qasim – Nhava Sheva – Hazira – Mundra.
With the first call of CMA CGM Traviata in Port Qasim, the EPIC 1 service will commence on July 26.
EPIC 2 will connect North Europe and United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and North West India. In partnership with Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg Süd, the rotation will be the following:
Mundra –Jeddah – Cagliari – Tanger –Hamburg –Antwerp – London – Tanger – Cagliari- Jeddah – Khor Fakkan – Jebel Ali – Port Qasim – Nhava Sheva – Mundra.
The EPIC 2 service will start on July 24, with the first call in Khorfakkan.
The new services will improve the company’s port coverage with the addition of a weekly call in Hazira, India and with three weekly calls (Southampton and Felixstowe on EPIC 1, London Gateway on EPIC 2) in the United Kingdom.
In addition, transit times from India will be improved with an increase of calls in Port Qasim, Nhava Sheva and Mundra.