HAMBURG : In a significant development for regional maritime trade, Hapag Lloyd, a leading global container shipping line has announced the resumption of bookings on its revamped India Gulf Service 1 (IG1), further strengthening connectivity between the Indian subcontinent and the Upper Gulf.
The service has been reinstated following the reopening of cargo bookings to and from the Upper Gulf without transiting the Strait of Hormuz, providing customers with a reliable and efficient alternative routing amid evolving regional shipping dynamics.
The renewed India Gulf Service 1 (IG1) will connect key ports across India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, enhancing trade links and supporting the smooth movement of containerized cargo across one of the region’s most strategically important shipping corridors.
The revised port rotation for the service is:
Kandla (India) → Nhava Sheva (India) → Karachi (Pakistan) → Khorfakkan (United Arab Emirates) → Sohar (Oman) → Kandla (India).
The revamped service is expected to improve schedule reliability, provide greater flexibility for exporters and importers, and facilitate uninterrupted cargo flows between South Asia and the Gulf region. By offering a direct and efficient network, the service will support a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, engineering goods, chemicals, textiles, consumer products, and agricultural commodities.
The resumption of bookings underscores the carrier’s commitment to maintaining resilient supply chains and ensuring continuity of maritime trade despite changing operational conditions in the region. Customers will benefit from enhanced connectivity, optimized transit times, and improved access to major commercial and industrial hubs across the Gulf.
With trade between India and the Gulf countries continuing to grow, the reinstated IG1 service is expected to play an important role in strengthening regional logistics, supporting bilateral commerce, and reinforcing multimodal supply chain connectivity across the Arabian Sea and the Gulf region.
The latest network enhancement reflects the shipping line’s ongoing efforts to adapt its service offerings to evolving market requirements while providing safe, reliable, and customer-focused maritime transport solutions.
