China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and MCC Transport, a subsidiary of AP Moeller-Maersk Group, intend to start direct services connecting Shanghai city in China with Yangon in Myanmar.

The two container lines have plans to deploy smaller vessels for the transportation of cargoes in an effort to boost the trade between the two countries, reports South China Morning Post (SCMP).

With an estimated journey time of 12 to 14 days, the service will help the traders to avoid cargo transfers in Singapore or Malaysia, thus saving time and offering increased predictability for shipment schedules.

The vessels are likely to start journey from Shanghai and pass through Ningbo and Southeast Asian ports before reaching Yangon, which is the commercial capital for Myanmar.

CSCL spokesperson was quoted by SCMP as saying: "The launch of the new route will provide Chinese exporters and importers with a stable service. We estimate containerised cargo volume to have grown 30% last year to 350,000 TEU.

Small vessels are expected to be used for the new service since Yangon port has shallow depth.

SCMP cites MCC chief executive Tim Wickmann as saying: "Due to the draught constraint in Myanmar ports, at 7 to 8 metres deep, only small ships can be deployed in this service."

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