March 18 2024

Six new container ships have been ordered from a Chinese shipyard specifically for operation on the line

During the first year of operation of the regular line between the ports of China, India and St. Petersburg, the FESCO group transported 40.5 thousand TEU through the Suez Canal. More than 27 thousand TEU in the import direction and above 13 thousand TEU in the export direction were delivered from the port of St. Petersburg. Vessels serving the FESCO Baltorient Line (FBOL) carried out 18 voyages, the group’s press service reports.

The maritime service was launched on March 17, 2023. FESCO became the first Russian transport company to begin carrying out transportation between the ports of China and St. Petersburg along the deep sea route (via the Suez Canal) using its own assets and without calling at European ports. In May, ship calls were added to the Indian ports of Mundra and Nava Sheva; in June, with the help of a feeder service, the geography of the line was expanded to Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, and in September – Indonesia and South Korea.

There are currently five ships operating on the line, due to which the group has managed to reach its target regular schedule of one ship call every two weeks. Vessels are sent fully loaded for both import and export.

The basis of cargo flow from Asia to Russia traditionally consists of consumer goods, industrial cargo, finished cars and vehicle kits. In the opposite direction, cargo from timber processing enterprises and pulp and paper mills in the North-West of Russia and the Republic of Belarus, construction materials, and agricultural products are transported.

Especially for work on the line and as part of the fleet renewal strategy, FESCO ordered six new container ships with a capacity of about 2,500 TEU each from a Chinese shipyard. The last container ship of the series is scheduled to arrive at the end of April.

Source: https://portnews.ru/news/360846/