COSCO SHIPPING Bulk has officially launched its inaugural multipurpose container service to North Africa—marking the company’s strategic entry into the containerized shipping segment. 

The 80,000 dwt multipurpose vessel *Guo Yun Hai* successfully completed its maiden voyage from Nansha Port (China) to key North African destinations—including Benghazi and Misurata in Libya, and Valencia in Spain—via a trans-Mediterranean rotation calling at Qingdao, Incheon, Shanghai, Ningbo, the Suez Canal, and Port Said West.  

The service delivers the following core capabilities:  

• Direct maritime connectivity between South China and North Africa  

• Estimated transit time of 21 days from Nansha to Benghazi  

• Certified capacity for new energy vehicles (NEVs), lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems (ESS), and other IMO Class 9 dangerous goods  

• 220 reefer plug connections for temperature-controlled cargo  

Operationally, the service employs a dedicated backhaul model: containerized cargo is carried on the eastbound (Asia–Africa/Mediterranean) leg, while dry bulk commodities are loaded on the westbound (return) leg. This integrated “container + bulk” deployment enhances asset utilization, improves route-level economic efficiency, and strengthens resilience amid evolving global trade dynamics.  

This initiative represents a deliberate expansion of COSCO SHIPPING Bulk’s service portfolio—from a traditional dry bulk carrier to an integrated maritime logistics provider—and aligns with industry-wide trends toward versatile, multi-cargo-capable tonnage as a strategic response to diversifying cargo demand and supply chain complexity.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/XKPt9CRFpRzPT2URzRfG3Q