SHIPPING lines KMTC and OOCL have agreed to exchange slots on two Far East-India services, KMTC's Far East-India Express (FIX) service and OOCL's Central China India CCI/CIX 3 service.

The arrangement will enable KMTC to offer a new direct connection from South China (Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Shekou) to the Indian subcontinent (Nhava Sheva, Pipavav and Colombo), reports Alphaliner. 

The CCI/CIX 3 is jointly operated by OOCL, Regional Container Lines (RCL) and Hamburg Sud. The service deploys six ships ranging in size from 4,200-6,000 TEU, with OOCL contributing three ships, RCL two and Hamburg Sud one vessel. 

KMTC's first sailing on the CIX3 was scheduled to depart from Shanghai on November 18.

The FIX service is jointly operated by KMTC and Hanjin Shipping with slot operators including NYK Line and RCL. This service is operated by six 4,200-4,600 TEU ships, of which three ships are provided by KMTC and four ships by Hanjin Shipping.

OOCL will start participating on the FIX on November 21.