Cosco Shipping Bulk has launched its first dedicated container liner service, marking a strategic expansion beyond its traditional bulk shipping business into container transport.
Although parent group Cosco Shipping already operates the world’s fourth-largest container line, the move represents a significant step for the bulk division as it broadens its role within integrated logistics.
The vessel Guo Yun Hai made a successful call at Phase II Terminal in the Nansha Port Area of Guangzhou, officially opening the company’s new direct multi-purpose container route between South China and North Africa.
The service is intended to create a fast and reliable maritime corridor between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and growing North African markets, improving both trade connectivity and logistics efficiency.
The port rotation is Qingdao, Incheon, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Suez Canal, Port Said West, Benghazi, Misrata and Valencia.
Cosco Shipping Bulk said the route offers direct links from Nansha to Port Said in Egypt and to Benghazi and Misrata in Libya. The fastest sailing time from Nansha to North Africa is 21 days, which the company said currently represents the quickest transit from Nansha to Libya available on the market.
The service has been designed with flexibility in mind and is able to handle dangerous goods containers, including new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and energy storage units. It is also equipped with 220 reefer plugs to support a broader range of export cargoes.
According to the company, the route’s main strengths lie in its combination of cost-efficiency, reliability and speed.
