Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) proudly welcomed the inaugural call of the new standalone service PHOENIX, operated by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, marking another important milestone in the continued development of Rijeka as a strategic Adriatic gateway.
Launched in late March from Busan, the MSC Agamemnon VII made its maiden call at AGCT on June 2nd, officially introducing a new direct mainline connection between the Adriatic and key ports in the Far East.
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The PHOENIX service follows the rotation Busan – Ningbo – Shanghai – Shekou – Singapore – Ashdod – Haifa – Trieste – Koper – Rijeka – Ashdod – Singapore – Busan, providing a direct and continuous connection between the Far East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic. The rotation further strengthens global trade connectivity and reinforces AGCT’s position as part of MSC’s global network.
With vessels initially deployed in the 8,000 – 11,000 TEU range, the service is evolving towards larger 13,000+ TEU tonnage, further enhancing capacity on the Asia–Adriatic trade lane and supporting growing demand across South-East and Central European markets.
In line with long-standing maritime tradition, representatives of AGCT and the local MSC office visited the vessel during its maiden call. On this occasion, a commemorative plaque was presented to the vessel’s captain, marking the first call of the PHOENIX service at Rijeka and symbolising the strong partnership between the two organisations.
Iñigo Nuñez Mendibe, CEO of AGCT, commented: “We are grateful to MSC for their trust in AGCT as one of their main gateway terminals in the Adriatic. With this addition, AGCT now has two weekly direct services coming from the Far East to best serve not only Croatia, but also key landlocked markets in South-East and Central Europe.”
The introduction of the PHOENIX service further strengthens AGCT’s role as a key Adriatic hub within MSC’s global network and reflects the continued strengthening of cooperation between the two partners and their shared commitment to long-term growth in the region.