New Container Service From Several Shipping Lines

JAPAN – HAWAII – MEXICO - SOUTH AMERICA – WEST AFRICA Three of the major Japanese container shipping lines, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), have announced a new collaboration to connect Asia with Hawaii, Mexico and South American ports. The new route will replace some existing coverage including the ALEX – Neo service by opening two separate trade lanes ALEX-1 and ALEX-2 both running fixed day departures with ten vessels on ALEX-1 ranging from 4,200 – 4,800 TEU and nine 2,500 TEU ships deployed on the ALEX-2 route.

Rotations for the two weekly services will be as follows:

ALEX-1 Yokohama – Keelung – Hong Kong – Da Chan Bay – Xiamen – Shanghai – Busan – Manzanillo (Mexico) – Callao (Peru) – Iquique (Chile) – Valparaiso (Chile) – Lirquen (Chile) – Callao – Manzanillo – Yokohama

The inaugural sailing to be from Keelung on the 22nd July (MV MOL Bravery) with a 70 day round trip.

ALEX-2 Tokyo – Busan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Nagoya – Yokohama – Honolulu – Manzanillo (Mexico) – Buenaventura (Colombia) – Guayaquil (Ecuador) – Manzanillo – Honolulu – Tokyo

First sailing ex Busan (M/V MOL Satisfaction) on the 29th July with a 63 day rotation

Meanwhile, NYK tell us they will continue their weekly MAREX-Neo service, utilising three 1,700 TEU vessels linking Asia (via transhipment), Los Angeles, Mexico, and the west coast of Central America (WCCA) as an independent service, the rotation for the 21 day round trip route being:

Los Angeles (USA) – Manzanillo (Mexico) – Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala) – Acajutla (El Salvador) – Corinto (Nicaragua) – Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica) – Puerto Quetzal – Manzanillo – Los Angeles

Please note Asia to West Coast Central America is via transhipment.

Meantime K Line also have announced a new direct service from Far East to West Africa. K Line presently provides a feeder service from South Africa to West Africa using transhipment from Far East to South Africa. This new service will provide a faster transit time with direct service from Far East to West Africa which will be jointly operated by "K" Line, China Shipping, and Hapag-Lloyd.

A total of eight vessels will be deployed with "K" Line deploying 3 vessels, China Shipping providing 4 vessels, and the remaining 1 vessel coming from Hapag-Lloyd covering a 70-day round voyage. Rotation for this one is:

Shanghai - Ningbo - Xiamen - Shekou - Port Kelang - Durban (South Africa) -Tema (Ghana) - Lome (Togo) - Cotonou (Benin) - Tincan Island (Nigeria) - Durban -Port Kelang – Shanghai With the first sailing from Shanghai on the 21st July (MV CSCL Montevideo)