On September 9, 2024, MSC announced its service schedule between Asia and Europe, as well as Asia and the Americas, following the dissolution of its 2M alliance with Maersk. The Asia-Mediterranean services will include six routes named after animals, four of which will call at Italian ports. The itineraries feature two major paths—one through the Suez Canal and another around the Cape of Good Hope. It remains unclear whether the Africa circumnavigation will continue after the resolution of the Red Sea crisis.
Cape of Good Hope route
The Dragon service will circumnavigate Africa, calling at Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Singapore, Abu Qir (Egypt), and several European ports: Gioia Tauro, Genoa, La Spezia, and Fos-sur-Mer. From Abu Qir, it will serve the Eastern Mediterranean with a feeder service, while European hubs will provide inland connections via dedicated trains. Eastbound, the route will also stop at African ports Abidjan and Lomé, as well as Indian ports Mundra and Nhava Sheva, and Colombo, but will skip Singapore.
The Jade service offers extensive Asian coverage, calling at Qingdao, Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, and Singapore, while in Europe it will stop at Sines, Valencia, Barcelona, and Gioia Tauro. MSC’s intermodal network will serve the Iberian Peninsula from Spain. This route remains the same in both directions.
The Phoenix service will focus on the Adriatic Sea, serving Trieste and Koper, alongside Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou (Asia), and Singapore. It will also call at Iskenderun (Turkey), offering inland connections from Trieste to Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Czechia, and southern Germany. Eastbound, the service will also include Mersin (Turkey).
The Tiger service will link Asia with the Eastern Mediterranean, stopping at Busan, the Chinese ports of Xingang, Dalian, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Singapore, and Mediterranean ports in Turkey (Yarimca, Istanbul, Tekirdag-Asyaport) and Piraeus. From Tekirdag, it will serve the Marmara region and the Black Sea. Eastbound, the rotation remains unchanged.
The Lynx service will serve the Western Mediterranean, departing from Busan and stopping at Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shekou, and Singapore. In Europe, it will call at Barcelona, Valencia, Fos-sur-Mer, and Genoa, from where inland connections will continue via intermodal services. Eastbound, stops include Damietta (Egypt), Piraeus, and in Asia, only Shanghai will be called in China, while additional stops include Laem Chabang (Vietnam) and Vung Tau (Thailand).
The Panther service will also focus on the Eastern Mediterranean, covering Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Piraeus, and Turkish ports Istanbul, Izmit, and Mersin. Through Mersin, there will be direct connections to southern Turkey, with complementary services to Istanbul and Izmit. Eastbound, Damietta and Kaohsiung will be added.
Suez Canal route
These services will also pass through the Suez Canal, with some variations. The Dragon service will call at King Abdullah Port (Saudi Arabia) instead of Abu Qir on the westbound route, while the eastbound route will follow the same Dragon itinerary around the Cape of Good Hope. The Jade service will add King Abdullah in both directions, and will skip Sines in Spain.
The Phoenix service will follow the Cape of Good Hope westbound, while eastbound, it will add Mersin, King Abdullah, and Jeddah (Red Sea). The Tiger service will retain its Cape route westbound, adding King Abdullah, Abu Dhabi, and Jabel Ali on the eastbound leg. The Lynx service will add Damietta westbound and Laem Chabang and Vung Tau eastbound. Lastly, the Panther rotation will remain the same as the Cape route westbound, while eastbound it will add Damietta.
