Russian freight forwarders Inteco and Swift Transport Group have created liner operating subsidiaries to provide regular container shipping between Vostochny and China.
Using chartered ships, the services are intended to make up for the shortfall in the capacity as many mainline operators have suspended Russian port calls following the Russia-Ukraine war.
Inteco has established Inteco Lines to operate two services.
The first service covers Vostochny, Lianyungang, Qingdao and Busan, using the 489 TEU Shun Yue 19, with a two-week turnaround. Inteco Lines’ other service, using two general cargo vessels, Shun Yue 13 and Shun Yue 18 that can each carry 264 TEU, covers Vostochny and Ningbo, but can also pick up cargoes at other China ports if needed.
Cargo volumes have been strong and Inteco Lines is planning to add more ships or charter larger vessels so it can add calls to Shenzhen. Swift Transport’s liner subsidiary, Swift Line, has started a regular service connecting Vostochny, Tianjin (Xingang) and Taicang. The 676 TEU multipurpose ship SOL Hongkong has been deployed and offers two to three monthly sailings.
