12.02.2025
Arkas Line, whose 2025 growth strategy is to broaden its service network and entering new markets, met with its customers in India as its first route, introduced its services and explained its plans for the future. Arkas Line CEO Can Atalay said at the event, “Our mission has been to connect the world with seamless container transportation. Now, we are proudly carrying this mission to India, a country rich in history, culture and opportunities.”
After its successful operations in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Europe, Africa and the East Coast of America, Arkas Line met with its customers in India, which it added to its service network by advancing through the Red Sea, with a special invitation.
Arkas Line, which has partnered with Parekh Group, one of the best shipping companies, in India, which is an important actor in world trade and plays a critical role in global supply chains, aims to both increase access to new markets and offer a service structure that will better meet the needs of its customers. Under the agreement, Arkas Line will also be able to transport its customers’ cargo from the Mundra and Nheva Sheva ports to the trade centers in the hinterland of India via a railway connection.
Arkas Line CEO Can Atalay, Arkas Line management team and Parekh Marine Managing Director Naresh Parekh and executives, as well as Mumbai Consul Mustafa Kemalettin Eruygur and Mumbai Trade Attaché Mustafa Furkan Albayrak attended the event held in Mumbai.
Arkas Line CEO Can Atalay said in his speech at the meeting, “Today, we celebrate not just the launch of a new service but the beginning of a meaningful partnership between Parekh Marine India and Arkas Line, built on shared values and trust.
At Arkas Line, our mission has always been to connect the world with seamless container transportation. Now, we proudly extend that mission to India, a country rich in history, culture, and opportunity. We are excited to contribute to the growing story of India. We are offering a service with optimized transit times and high operational reliability.”
Atalay also stated “But this is more than a container service – it’s a partnership. Arkas Line is proud to collaborate with the Parekh Group, a trusted, respected name in the Indian market. Together, we are building a bridge between India and the world. Our partnership with Parekh Group is the foundation of a powerful synergy that will drive growth ahead. This partnership, a company with over 70 years of experience in the Indian market, allows us to leverage deep market insights and a strong local network. We are committed to working
closely with Indian businesses, listening to their needs, and adapting our services to provide customized logistics solutions.”
With the launch of the India Service, Arkas Line will operate in 27 countries, offering 33 services across 72 ports. India is a key part of Arkas Line’s long-term growth strategy, and plan to expand its presence and service offerings over time.
Parekh Group Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Naresh Parekh, who made the opening speech at the invitation, said: “It is an honor to welcome Arkas Line to India and celebrate the launch of this unique Mediterranean–Red Sea service. With significantly improved transit times, this service brings new opportunities to the Indian market. We deeply value the trust and support of our clients over the past 72 years, and we are committed to delivering excellence alongside Arkas Line. Their dedication to quality and long-term investment in this market is evident, and we look forward to a strong and successful partnership that continues to grow.”
The new service called “India Med Service (IMS)” will commence on February 11, 2025, with four vessels, each having a capacity of 2,500-2,800 TEU. As of June 2025, the number of vessels in this service will increase to five, continuing to operate weekly. The route of the “India Med Service (IMS)” will cover the following ports: Ambarli – Evyap – Aliaga – Mersin – Aqaba – Jeddah – NhavaSheva – Mundra – Jeddah – Aqaba – Alexandria – Ambarli.
By utilizing rail connections from the ports of Mundra and Nhava Sheva, the company will also facilitate the transportation of customers’ cargo to key trade centers in the inland regions of India. The India Med Service is designed to provide fast and efficient transit times between India, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea region, which are key trade hubs for Indian businesses. Key features and benefits include strong regional connectivity which means direct access to Europe, the Mediterranean, and beyond, seamless logistics solutions as inland container depot (ICD) and warehousing services for door-to-door logistics and also sustainability initiatives as the option to book cargo on biofuel-powered vessels to support eco-friendly shipping.
With the launch of the new “India Med Service (IMS)” line, there will be a restructuring of the service network in the Mediterranean. Arkas Line has decided to merge its existing GPS (Great Pendulum Service), EMS (East Med Morocco Service), and SEM (Spain-East Med) services. By introducing the new “Blue Med Service (BMS)”, the company aims to strengthen its Mediterranean network with a more efficient and comprehensive service structure.
By having all its vessels operated by Arkas Line, the “Blue Med Service (BMS)” will solidify the company’s position in the region. With this new development, the Mediterranean route will be as follows: Alexandria – Beirut – Lattakia – Mersin – Aliaga – Genoa – La Spezia –
Tangier – Casablanca – Valencia – Barcelona – Fos Sur Mer – Genoa – La Spezia – Salerno – Alexandria.
