On December 16, at the Dagang Terminal of Qingdao Port, the 72,000-DWT multipurpose vessel “GREEN NAGOYA” was bustling with activity. As the inaugural ship in COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers’ new Southeast Africa direct express weekly service, it completed loading over 20,000 cubic meters of cargo, including engineering vehicles, equipment, and steel. The vessel was set to embark on a journey spanning 6,550 nautical miles to Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam, where it is expected to arrive in just over 20 days.

On the same day, a launch conference for the COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Southeast Africa express service was held in Qingdao, co-hosted by COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers and Qingdao Port of Shandong Port Group. This event signifies the introduction of COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers’ “Belt and Road” initiative product line, aimed at enhancing logistical efficiency and reducing overall logistics costs for all stakeholders involved. Consequently, Qingdao Port has been established as the pivotal hub for the company’s general cargo liner operations in Northern China.

This pioneering route establishes a maritime link between Asia, East Africa, and South Africa. Besides Qingdao, the service also originates from Chinese ports like Zhangjiagang and Lianyungang, extending to key destinations such as Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Durban, and other prominent ports across Southeast Africa. With a monthly frequency of four voyages and a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per shipment, the service is poised to transport nearly 1.5 million cubic meters of goods annually to Southeast Africa. It thereby serves as a vital “marine highway,” fostering connectivity and trade between China and the region.

The implementation of this direct express service slashes the fastest direct sailing time from China’s principal ports to major Southeast African ports to approximately 20 days. Consequently, customers can expect delivery within 30 days, marking an improvement of at least 10 days compared to previous services. This boost in efficiency exceeds 30%, dramatically accelerating transit times and enhancing the global supply chain’s quality and productivity.