Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT), the Croatian port operation of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), is strengthening its role as a key logistics hub in Europe following the launch of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) Phoenix service, which establishes a direct maritime connection between the Adriatic region and major Far East markets.

The new service, which made its inaugural call at AGCT on June 2 through the arrival of MSC AGAMEMNON VIII, expands trade access between the Port of Rijeka and major manufacturing and consumer centers in Asia, including key markets in China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

AGCT said the Phoenix service will improve supply chain efficiency for importers and exporters across Croatia and landlocked markets in Southeast and Central Europe by providing a continuous mainline connection linking the Adriatic, Eastern Mediterranean, and the Far East.

“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 Southeast and Central Europe,” said Iñigo Mendibe, AGCT chief executive officer.

The service operates through a port rotation covering Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Ashdod, Haifa, Trieste, Koper, and Rijeka, before returning through the same network.

Initially deploying vessels with capacities ranging from 8,000 to 11,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the Phoenix service is expected to transition to larger ships exceeding 13,000 TEUs, increasing capacity along the Asia-Adriatic trade route.

ICTSI said the addition further reinforces AGCT’s position within MSC’s global shipping network while supporting the continued development of Rijeka as a strategic gateway for regional trade.

The launch also reflects growing efforts to improve connectivity between Asian supply chains and European markets, providing businesses with additional options for cargo movement amid increasing demand for efficient and resilient logistics networks.