Great Western adds transpacific capacity

Great Western adds transpacific capacity

   Great Western will increase capacity on its weekly South China/Hong Kong/California container service under a slot-exchange agreement with Zim Israel Navigation Co.

   The Tequesta, Fl.-based shipping line will use larger vessels of 2,200-TEU capacities for its “GWX” service, instead of current ships of about 1,700 TEUs. The service calls at Shekou, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

   Zim said it will take slots on Great Western's Asia/California service, subject to Federal Maritime Commission approval, and stop eastbound calls at Long Beach that have been part of its “ZCS” service.

   “In view of an increasing customers demand, mainly in the U.S. East Coast, Zim has decided to reorganize its service,” the Israeli carrier said, referring to the change of the “ZCS” operation. Westbound calls at Long Beach on the “ZCS” service will continue. Its revised eastbound rotation will be Xiamen, Shekou, Hong Kong, Keelung, Pusan, Osaka, Yokohama, Kingston (Jamaica), Savannah, New York and Halifax.

   Great Western takes slots on the “ZCS” service of Zim, as well as on its all-water Asia/U.S. East Coast “AUX” service and its Asia/Pacific Northwest “AMP” service.