The world’s three largest container lines said they are cutting capacity on two trans-Pacific services they operate under vessel-sharing agreements they formed last summer.
Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM said they will merge the Central and Northern China services they operate between Asia and U.S. West Coast into one service as of Sept. 16.
As a result, the Yangzi loop covering Central and South China will be suspended after its last departure on Sept. 7.
The reorganized weekly service, which CMA CGM is calling the Bohai Rim, will be operated with five 8,100-TEU vessels, of which Maersk and MSC will kick in two each, and CMA CGM one.
By the end of September 2009, the loop Maersk calls Trans-Pacific 2 will be replaced by other strings in the Trans-Pacific network, which will replace most of the ports formerly covered by the suspended TP2. Adjustments to other Trans-Pacific strings, particularly TP5 and TP8, will ensure continued coverage of the TP2 eastbound scope. TP2's westbound scope will be covered by TP6, TP5 and TP7.
The restructured rotation will be: Dalian, Xingang, Shanghai WGQ, Shanghai, Yangshan, Ningbo, Los Angeles, Oakland and back to Dalian.
The three carriers said Hong Kong, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Qingdao are already included in other loops that they operate.
The Journal of Commerce Online
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