Maersk has announced the launch of FI2, a new weekly ocean service connecting Far East Asia to the Indian Subcontinent. The first westbound sailing departs Shanghai on June 4, 2026.
The service runs six vessels of 4,500 TEU nominal capacity each. The port rotation covers Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Tanjung Pelepas, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav and Port Qasim.
Meeting growing demand
FI2 was introduced in direct response to rising customer demand for additional capacity on the China-India route. It gives Indian importers and exporters a faster, high-frequency connection to key manufacturing and sourcing hubs across northwest India.
The Pipavav advantage
A key feature of FI2 is its call at Pipavav in Gujarat. The port serves as a gateway to India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) rail network. Through DFC connectivity, cargo arriving at Pipavav can move efficiently inland to the National Capital Region, including Delhi, Gurugram and Noida. This makes FI2 particularly relevant for customers moving time-sensitive cargo in automotive, chemicals, retail and technology sectors.
“The FI2 is a direct response to what our customers want: more capacity, consistency, and connectivity on the China-India route. By combining the weekly ocean service with our rail solution via the DFC, we are going a step further and giving our customers the true integrated logistics experience” said Thomas Theeuwes, managing director, Maersk South Asia.
Expanding the India network
FI2 joins Maersk’s existing FI3 service, giving the carrier two direct Far East-India ocean products. Together, the two services offer improved frequency, greater routing flexibility and stronger supply chain resilience for customers on this corridor.
