Al Nefud vessel docks at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's Meishan Port Area. [Photo/Tide News]

The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's Jintang Port Area launched the new CMA CGM East Africa Express Line (Kilima) on Aug 4.

The inaugural vessel departed for ports in Kenya and Tanzania, strengthening ties with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

According to Dong Enming, from the Ningbo Port Southeast Shipping Agency, the new route reflects growing trade demand and confidence in Zhejiang's maritime market.

To support the launch, Zhoushan Customs collaborated with various terminals and shipping agents to streamline procedures. Measures such as paperless declarations and automated clearances have reduced docking waiting times.

Currently, Yongzhou Container Terminal operates 52 international routes, 85 percent of which are related to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Later that day, Al Nefud vessel, from Gemini, a shipping alliance formed by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, docked at the Meishan Port Area.

The Gemini alliance currently connects the Meishan Port Area to 10 major transoceanic routes covering five key regions, including Europe and the United States West Coast.

In the past six months, the Meishan Port Area has handled 263 vessel calls from Gemini, with over 1.68 million twenty-foot equivalent units of container throughput — accounting for 22.6 percent of the port area's total.