A.P. Moller – Maersk has announced the launch of a new ocean service, FI2, which will connect countries in the Far East of Asia with the Indian subcontinent. The first westbound voyage is scheduled to depart from Shanghai on June 4, 2026. This new route was established in response to growing customer demand for additional capacity on the China–India trade lane and will ensure faster, more regular shipments between the region’s key manufacturing and trading hubs.
The service will be operated by a fleet of six vessels with a capacity of approximately 4,500 TEU, following a rotation of Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Tanjung Pelepas – Nhava Sheva – Pipavav – Port Qasim. A key feature of the service is a call at Pipavav in the Indian state of Gujarat, which is connected to the Dedicated Freight Corridor rail network, enabling direct cargo delivery to inland industrial regions – including Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida.
Maersk notes that the FI2 service complements the existing FI3 service, thereby creating a denser network of direct ocean connections between Asia and India. According to Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director of Maersk South Asia, the new line addresses customer demand for increased capacity, stability, and integrated logistics that combine ocean and rail transport to build more resilient supply chains.