MITSUI OSK Lines (MOL) has separated its Singapore Mumbai-Nhava Sheva Karachi service (NKX) into two new loops: the NCX linking China and Nhava Sheva, and the KPX connecting Singapore with Pipavav and Karachi.

The NCX will be MOL's first direct service linking Shanghai and Shenzhen and Nhava Sheva on India's west coast, while the KPX will serve Karachi, Pakistan and Pipavav on India's west coast, MOL said in a statement.

The port rotation for the NCX is Shanghai (Thu/Fri), Da Chan Bay (Sun/Sun), Hong Kong (Mon/Mon), Singapore (Fri/Sat), Mumbai-Nhava Sheva (Thu/Fri), Port Kelang (Thu/Thu), Singapore (Fri/Fri) and back to Shanghai.

The port rotation for the KPX is Singapore (Fri/Sat), Pipavav (Sat/Sat), Karachi (Sun/Tue), Colombo (Sat/Sat), Penang (Wed/Wed), Port Kelang (Thu/Fri) and back to Singapore.

The Japanese shipping company said the NCX will deploy four 2,500-TEU vessels, and the KPX will have three in the loop.

The first containership deployed on the NCX route is expected to arrive in Shanghai on May 19, and the first sailing of the KPX service is due to arrive in Singapore on May 27, the Shipping Gazette reports.