Maersk has finalised plans to reinstate regular sailings on its India-US East Coast MECL service via the Red Sea and Suez Canal after two uneventful trial voyages, reported New York's Journal of Commerce.

The new schedule will begin with a late January or early February departure from India. A Maersk Middle East executive said the MECL would soon permanently use the Suez route, though the carrier declined to confirm details publicly.

The 6,648-TEU Maersk Sebarok transited the Suez in December, followed by the 6,200-TEU Maersk Denver this week. Both vessels are part of the MECL service linking India to the US East Coast but are outside the Gemini Cooperation alliance with Hapag-Lloyd.

The weekly MECL calls at Mundra, Pipavav and Nhava Sheva, though Maersk has announced omissions to Mundra and Pipavav on two upcoming voyages. Forwarders in Mumbai said the carrier has begun accepting grape cargo bookings to Europe via the Suez, offering shippers a six-day transit gain compared with the Cape of Good Hope route.

Maersk said it had not yet started loading Europe cargo on MECL vessels but would explore the option once routing changes are official. The Suez offering is seen as a strategic move to regain market share in the reefer-focused Indian grape trade.

Other carriers are also shifting. CMA CGM's Indamex service will sail westbound via the Suez from January 17. India-US East Coast exports have declined amid tariff disputes, with November volumes at 67,490 TEU, down from 93,160 TEU in August. Spot rates stood at US$1,300 per FEU on January 13, down from $1,400 a month earlier.