en.Wedoany.com Reported - Despite the escalating risk in the Red Sea conflict zone, the growing volume of cargo transshipped via India to the Middle East is driving second-tier and niche container shipping lines to expand their Red Sea route services.

Italian roll-on/roll-off operator Messina Line has launched a standalone "opportunistic" India-Red Sea loop, named the "Red Sea Express." The service will connect India's JNPA (Nhava Sheva) port, Oman's Sohar port, and Saudi Arabia's Jeddah port, which have become key gateways for Persian Gulf imports. The maiden voyage is scheduled for August 27.

This marks the second time in less than a year that Messina has launched a service covering the Red Sea from India. Last October, the company initiated its India-Mediterranean (INDME) service, offering fortnightly sailings with a commitment to upgrade to weekly frequency.

Messina stated this week that, in response to the growing demand on this critical trade corridor, the company is further strengthening its presence by deploying additional vessels to enhance service network connectivity, boost capacity, and optimize schedule flexibility. The company added that launching the Red Sea Express is part of its ongoing efforts to invest in strategic markets, strengthen its service network, and provide reliable and efficient shipping solutions.

Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd, after reopening bookings for upper Persian Gulf destinations (without routing via the Strait of Hormuz), has signed an agreement with Middle East feeder operator GFS (Global Feeder Shipping) to lease space on its weekly India-Red Sea service. The German carrier informed customers that this arrangement enables cargo movements involving Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE to achieve connectivity without transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Port statistics obtained by The Loadstar show that JNPA has been at the forefront of handling cargo diversions from the Middle East, with this inflow remaining robust even five months after the conflict erupted. After a slight slowdown in transshipment growth in May and June, the port's transshipment throughput surged to approximately 113,000 TEUs in July, up from 93,500 TEUs in June and 97,500 TEUs in May.

Due to the massive influx of additional cargo, terminal operations and yard capacity at JNPA and Mundra have faced severe challenges over the past few months, raising concerns among Indian importers and exporters. Local industry insiders noted that on the positive side, India's position as a regional supply chain hub has been consolidated.