MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company will replace Colombo with Hambantota as the northbound Sri Lankan hub call on its Far East–South Africa Ingwe service, according to Alphaliner.
Alongside the port change, MSC will increase capacity on the service by adding an additional vessel, bringing total deployment to 12 ships ranging from 5,500 TEU to 12,000 TEU.
Following the network adjustment, the revised Ingwe rotation will connect Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen (Shekou), Singapore, Port Louis, Ngqura, Durban, Port Louis, Hambantota, Hong Kong and Tianjin before returning to Qingdao.
The changes are expected to strengthen MSC’s operational flexibility on the Asia–South Africa trade lane while enhancing the role of Hambantota within the carrier’s regional transshipment network.
