The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is adding Lome, Togo to the current rotation of its China-Africa Express service, a move it said will upgrade its dedicated service between Asia and West Africa.

Lome will become a major transshipment hub for the shipping line gradually over several phases.

During the first phase, the carrier will bring cargo from Lome and Cotonou in the Republic of Benin and will implement a dedicated feeder between Lome and Cotonou, to ensure a fast connection, a company release said.

The new port rotation for the string is: Shanghai, Ningbo, Guangzhou-Nansha, Shenzhen-Chiwan, Singapore, Port Louis, Tincan Island-Lagos, Lome, San Pedro, Abidjan, Coega, Singapore, Shanghai.

The service is operated by eleven 4,000-TEU vessels. The first sailing on the new port rotation will be operated by the 4,038-TEU Mare Caribicum, voyage number: FY 439A. The ship is due to arrive in Lome on October 28.