The Liberia-flagged vessel MSC Kelly VII docked at Xiamen's Haicang Hairun Terminal on May 21. This marks the inaugural call of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) West Africa IROKO service at Xiamen, signifying the addition of a new deep-sea shipping channel connecting Xiamen Port to West Africa.

The IROKO service is independently operated by MSC and deploys 12 vessels with capacities ranging from 7,000 to 9,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The port rotation is: Hong Kong - Xiamen - Shanghai - Ningbo - Nansha - Singapore - Cape Town - Pointe-Noire - Cotonou - Apapa - Tincan - Onne - Walvis Bay - Cape Town - Colombo - Hong Kong. This forms a deep-sea closed-loop network linking Asia with South Africa and West Africa.

According to the Dongdu Immigration Inspection Station of the Xiamen Immigration Inspection General Station, this new route provides direct services to Cape Town and several key West African ports. It is expected to significantly enhance transport efficiency from Asia to various African nations. The route will offer robust support for multiple sectors, including retail, solar panels, and consumer goods, further connecting the Chinese and African markets.

To ensure the smooth maiden voyage of this new service, the Dongdu Immigration Inspection Station proactively engaged with terminal operators and shipping agents in advance. This allowed for precise coordination regarding the vessel's berthing schedule and customs clearance requirements. Upon the ship's arrival, inspection personnel efficiently completed all border inspection procedures, enabling immediate operations upon docking and prompt departure upon completion.