The new route will use Nhava Sheva and Mundra as its Indian hub ports, connecting them with the East African gateway ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Mombasa, Kenya.   The service represents HMM’s second African feeder network under its hub-and-spoke strategy, which combines ultra-large vessels operating on major global trade lanes with smaller regional feeder ships serving emerging markets. The strategy has been actively pursued since CEO Choi Won-hyuk assumed leadership of the company’s container business.   HMM will deploy five 2,800-TEU container vessels on the weekly service. The rotation will be: Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Dar es Salaam – Mombasa

The service will be jointly operated by HMM, COSCO Shipping, Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Interasia Lines, with plans to extend the network to the Gulf region in the future.

The new service complements HMM’s existing MA2 service, which connects North and West Africa via Algeciras, Spain, supporting the carrier’s long-term strategy to expand its footprint across the African continent.

According to HMM, the inclusion of Kenya and Tanzania reflects the growing importance of East Africa as a trade gateway, supported by ongoing investments in port infrastructure and inland logistics. The company expects the new service to improve cargo connectivity and offer greater convenience to exporters and importers.   HMM noted that growing uncertainty in global supply chains has increased customer demand for reliable sailing schedules and broader network coverage. The carrier said its hub-and-spoke model is designed to provide greater operational flexibility while enhancing service competitiveness.   As part of its long-term growth strategy, HMM recently announced plans to expand its container fleet to 1.47 million TEU across 166 vessels by 2030, reinforcing its position in the global liner shipping market.

An HMM official said the India-East Africa service marks another important milestone in expanding the company’s African network and reaffirmed its commitment to developing services in high-growth markets while delivering enhanced value to customers.