PSA Mumbai enhances Europe connectivity with new EPIC/EPI3/IP1 service

January 23, 2021: The berthing of CMA CGM’s “APL New York” on January 20, 2021 marked the launch of PSA Mumbai’s 2nd direct Europe service and its 8th weekly service call.

The 9,336 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity vessel is one of the 4 deployed by CMA CGM on this service. Partners COSCO Shipping Lines and OOCL also respectively contribute 2 vessels and 1 vessel each.

The new EPIC / EPI3/IP1 service connects PSA Mumbai to key Europe markets with the following port rotation: PSA Mumbai – Mundra – Jeddah – Tangier – Southampton – Bremerhaven – Rotterdam – Antwerp – LeHavre – Algeciras - Jeddah – Jebel Ali – Abu Dhabi – Qasim - PSA Mumbai.

Atit Mahajan, MD CMA CGM India, commented, “We are very proud to welcome the maiden call of our vessel “APL New York” at PSA Mumbai, which is also the first call of the EPIC service. The CMA CGM Group is a world leader in shipping and logistics and with the launch of the new EPIC service, the Group has reinforced its commitment to serve its customers with better and faster services on its EPIC, EPIC2, MEDEX and MEGEM services along Europe-Mediterranean-Middle East and India Subcontinent trades. Being a customer-centric company, the Group is constantly innovating and restructuring its services and products to best suit our customer’s requirements. PSA is one of the most reliable port partners of the CMA CGM Group in India. Together we have accomplished many remarkable milestones since it started its operations in 2018 in India.”

Capt Surinder Chugh, CEO COSCO Shipping Lines India, said, “With the addition of this service, COSCO has reinforced its commitment to the Indian trade and will prove to be beneficial to all customers in the supply chain. PSA Mumbai is the most modernised terminal with top class infrastructure that enhances vessel productivity. COSCO, having a strong relationship with PSA Mumbai, is able to pass on the benefit to its customers including those located in the ICDs. With the EPIC3 service, COSCO would have 3 services from PSA Mumbai. We are thankful to Mr Sivakumar, MD of PSA Mumbai and his entire team, for giving us full cooperation in achieving faster and safer turnaround of vessels. With the development of a dedicated corridor between North India and Nhava Sheva, PSA Mumbai has developed the necessary infrastructure that is needed at its rail head. COSCO would take advantage of this new development and reinforce its participation in Nhava Sheva in the near future. We are confident that the relationship between PSA Mumbai and COSCO would touch new heights in the coming future and would like to thank everyone at PSA Mumbai.”

An OOCL spokesman said, “We are glad to extend our global relationship with PSA one step further by commemorating the start of our new IP1 service calling at PSA Mumbai, giving us an edge to meet customers’ requirements and satisfaction with the enhanced operational efficiencies and terminal productivity levels. Wishing every success to both OOCL and PSA Mumbai teams.”

Sivakumar Kaliannan, managing director PSA Mumbai, said, “We are very grateful to CMA CGM, COSCO and OOCL for entrusting us with this new service, complementing their existing Far East and Europe services at our terminal. We will do our very best to make their service a success. With the growing volumes and services, PSA Mumbai is further strengthening its service offerings to our valued customers. We are pleased to have already set a new record for domestic repositioning of containers by rail in January 2021, with over 1600 TEUs handled so far. This includes empty container repositioning between various hinterlands and nearby container depots via our rail yard, and off-dock LCL consolidation for laden containers currently moved by rail to a number of north India destinations. PSA Mumbai is pleased to to give shipping lines cost-effective options for MT repositioning through our terminal, and do our part to encourage the shift from road to rail, bringing environmental benefits and reduced traffic congestion.”