First direct container vessel from India arrives in Qatar

The first direct container vessel, part of a non-stop service launched to facilitate trade between India and Qatar, has arrived here from Mumbai.

MS Convent arrived at the Doha Port in Qatar where it was received by high-level officials after completing its maiden voyage from Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai, according to the Peninsula newspaper.

The non-stop service will connect Qatar’s Doha port with India’s largest port Nhava Sheva, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, in Mumbai.

The move facilitates the thriving trade activities between the two countries that have witnessed significant growth in the recent years.

The service was launched by Milaha Maritime & Logistics, a subsidiary of the Qatar based Milaha Group which delivers integrated transport and supply chain solutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council, last week.

“The new service is a continuation of Milaha’s longstanding commitment to being a provider of supply chain solutions to its customers, particularly those in the Qatari market,” Khalifa Al Hetmi said at the launch of service.

“We are very confident in the prosperous future of the trade between Qatar and India, and we are certain that this new service will be a major contributor to this prosperity, which will reflect positively on Qatari and Indian importers and exporters as well as end users on both sides,” Hetmi said.

“We are continuously seeking ways to expand our service offerings to benefit importers and exporters alike,” he added.

Unlike existing services in the market, the new weekly service will enable direct shipments between Nhava Sheva and Doha without the need for trans-shipment in the UAE’s Jebel Ali, thus increasing reliability and reducing transit time and costs.