COSCO Shipping launches high-speed sea route to Africa

A vehicle is loaded onto the Green Nagoya, a newly delivered cargo ship, at a berth in Qingdao Port, Shandong province, on Monday. (Photo provided to China Daily)

At a berth in Qingdao Port, a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group, over 20,000 cubic meters of cargo — including machinery, vehicles and steel — were loaded onto the Green Nagoya on Monday, a newly delivered 72,000-dead-weight-ton cargo ship. The vessel is expected to arrive at Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania in about 20 days.

The voyage marks the official launch of a new direct shipping route run by COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Co Ltd between Qingdao in Shandong province and major ports in southeast Africa, which is set to run on a weekly basis, said the company.

"This route adds a safe and fast maritime shipping alternative between China and Africa, aiming to boost trade connectivity between two sides and helping stabilize the global supply chain," said Gu Weidong, deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers.

Gu said that the new route will improve shipping efficiency by at least 30 percent, reducing voyage times to 20 days.

He attributed the efficiency of the service to enhanced collaboration with Qingdao Port, which streamlines loading operations at a single port, as well as advanced vessel facilities and intelligent voyage systems.

Notably, the Green Nagoya can reduce fuel consumption by at least 40 percent under the same cargo load and voyage conditions. Over the 5,000-nautical-mile route, this translates to savings of 380.4 metric tons of carbon emission per 10,000 tons of cargo transported, Gu added.

According to COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers, the shipping route has been launched to meet growing trade demand between China and Africa, driven by the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The line connects Qingdao Port with major southeast African ports such as Dar es Salaam, Mombasa and Durban. With four voyages scheduled each month, the service is expected to handle up to 1.5 million cubic meters of exports annually, significantly boosting trade flow and serving as a "high-speed sea route" for general cargo, the company said.

Ming Gang, supply and marketing manager at Yongfeng Group, a leading steel producer based in Dezhou, Shandong province, highlighted the advantages of the new route.

"Previously, our steel products were shipped from multiple domestic ports, which extended loading times and posed safety risks. The new regular service from Qingdao Port allows us to consolidate shipments, ensuring timely deliveries and product safety while improving client communication," Ming said.

The launch of the new line also positions Qingdao Port as the sole hub for general cargo liners operated by COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers in northern China.

Liu Junfeng, marketing manager at the Dagang branch of Qingdao Port, emphasized that more goods, including steel, equipment, vehicles and advanced manufacturing products, will now be shipped through Qingdao Port.

"Qingdao Port's excellent connectivity to highways and railways also will help clients reduce transportation costs and save time," Liu added.