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Adriatic Gate Container Terminal in Croatia, operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., now has a second weekly direct service from the Far East after Mediterranean Shipping Company’s Phoenix mainline rotation launch
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The service gives AGCT two weekly direct Far East services, strengthening its role as a gateway for Croatia and landlocked markets in Southeast and Central Europe.
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The Phoenix route rotates through Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Ashdod, Haifa, Trieste, Koper, and Rijeka.
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Ships deployed range from 8,000-11,000 TEU, with an upgrade path toward 13,000+ TEU vessels
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The move consolidates AGCT’s position as a key hub within MSC’s global network and reinforces Rijeka’s emergence as a strategic Adriatic gateway
Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT), the Croatia operation of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has secured a second weekly direct service from the Far East with Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) Phoenix mainline rotation at the Port of Rijeka.
The Phoenix service made its inaugural call at AGCT on June 2 with the arrival of the MSC Agamemnon VIII, marking what company officials described as another milestone in Rijeka’s development as a strategic Adriatic gateway, ICTSI said in a statement.
“We are grateful to MSC for their trust in AGCT as one of their main gateway terminals in the Adriatic,” said Iñigo Mendibe, AGCT chief executive officer. “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 Southeast and Central Europe.”
The new service establishes a direct, continuous maritime connection between the Adriatic, the Eastern Mediterranean, and key ports across the Far East — a corridor that is increasingly vital for regional importers and exporters seeking faster, more reliable access to Asian manufacturing and consumer markets.
The Phoenix rotation calls at Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, and Singapore before transiting through Ashdod, Haifa, Trieste, and Koper on its way to Rijeka, then loops back through Ashdod and Singapore to Busan.
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The service is currently deploying vessels in the 8,000-to-11,000 TEU range but is slated to scale toward ships exceeding 13,000 TEUs, a capacity upgrade that would meaningfully expand throughput on the Asia-Adriatic trade lane.
For AGCT, the Phoenix addition consolidates the terminal’s standing within MSC’s global network and accelerates the port’s repositioning as a competitive Adriatic alternative to established Northern European container gateways.
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