September 20, 2005


MOL to Launch India/Pakistan-South/East Africa Service


TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced plans to launch a liner route linking India, Pakistan, the Middle East and South/East Africa.

The new service, slated to begin in December, will offer fixed-day weekly service with six containerships, in partnership with Singapore-based Pacific International Line (PIL) and Mauritius-based Laurel Navigation Ltd. (LNL). Each company will provide two ships.

The move allows MOL to provide more stable cargo capacity compared to the former service offered via Singapore. At the same time, it significantly shortens transit times, improving competitiveness and more effectively meeting customer needs.

What's more, linking this new service with other routes allows MOL to offer many of the industry's fastest transit times between India, Pakistan and the Middle East, and the east coast of South America, West Africa and Indian Ocean islands, with Durban as a hub port.

Outline of New Service
Number of ships Six 850 TEU-class containerships (two MOL-operated)
Frequency Fixed-day weekly
Calling ports Karachi - Nhava Sheva - Jebel Ali - Mombasa - Dar es Salaam - Durban-Dar es Salaam-Mombasa-Karachi.