A view of the Chuanshan container terminal of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/IC]

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province launched a new East Africa route operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company on Nov 28.

Under the supervision of Ningbo Customs, the vessel MSC General IV berthed at the Chuanshan container terminal, marking the official opening of the service.

MSC will deploy 10 modern container ships, each with a capacity of 4,500 TEUs, on the new route. Starting from Tokyo and calling at Yokohama, Busan, Ningbo-Zhoushan, and Singapore, the service will carry automobiles, electronics, chemicals, and construction materials from Ningbo and surrounding cities directly to Tanzania and Kenya, two major gateways on the east coast of Africa. Each voyage is expected to bring roughly 900 TEUs of export volume through Ningbo Port.

To support the route's launch, Ningbo Customs coordinated with terminal operators, shipping lines, and ship agents to streamline procedures, shorten vessel waiting times, and lower clearance costs.

From January to October, Ningbo Customs supervised more than 20,000 inbound and outbound international vessels. With the addition of this route, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port now operates 308 container shipping services, including 256 international routes.