Maersk launches FI2 ocean service to strengthen India-China trade connectivity

A.P. Moller - Maersk announced the launch of FI2, a dedicated ocean service connecting Far East Asia to the Indian Subcontinent, with the first westbound sailing scheduled to depart from Shanghai on June 4, 2026. The service has been introduced in response to customer demand for additional capacity on the China–India trade route and will provide Indian importers and exporters with a direct, high-frequency connection to manufacturing and sourcing hubs across North West India.

The weekly service will be operated with a fleet of six vessels with a nominal capacity of 4,500 TEU. The port rotation will be Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Tanjung Pelepas – Nhava Sheva – Pipavav – Port Qasim.

A key feature of the FI2 service is its call at Pipavav on India’s northwestern coastline in Gujarat. Pipavav serves as a gateway to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) rail network, enabling A.P. Moller – Maersk to provide integrated logistics services beyond the port. Through DFC rail connectivity, cargo arriving at Pipavav can be transported inland to the National Capital Region (NCR), including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and nearby industrial areas, reducing transit times and supporting cargo movement to destination points.


The service is aimed at customers moving high-value and time-sensitive cargo in sectors such as automotive, chemicals, retail and technology that require end-to-end supply chain connectivity.

Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, said in a statement, “The FI2 is a direct response to what our customers want: more capacity, consistency, and connectivity, on the China-India route. By combining the weekly ocean service with our rail solution via the DFC, we are going a step further and giving our customers the true integrated logistics experience.”