MSC has added a twist to the tale. Its bold entry to the Europe/Far East trade was actually accompanied by its first new buildings, the 3’300 TEU MSC ALEXA and MSC Rafaela, a third large ship, the MSC Don Giovanni, was bought mew from a German shipyard during 1996. The company’s geographic expansion continued apace in the course of the year. Besides de Europe/Far East service - which includes links to the Middle East Gulf, India and Pakistan via Jebel Ali and Colombo - new routes between the Mediterranean and West Africa, and between South/East Africa and the Middle East Gulf/South Asia were added. The latter route also connects South/east Africa with the Far East via transhipment in Colombo, an example of the interaction of MSC’s many separate links. The Mediterranean becomes a key transfer area, and services within the Mediterranean, Adriatic and into the Black Sea and Read Sea were all built up considerably during 1996.he upstart.