CHINA SHIPPING, CMA CGM, NORASIA, WAN HAI FIRM UP PACIFIC DEALS

CHINA SHIPPING, CMA CGM, NORASIA, WAN HAI FIRM UP PACIFIC DEALS

   China Shipping Group, CMA CGM, Norasia, Kien Hung and Wan Hai have firmed up plans to operate joint services in the transpacific.

      In a complex web of bilateral and multilateral agreements, the shipping lines have confirmed plans to introduce new services and reorganize existing services in the Pacific.

      The moves will enable Wan Hai, of Taiwan, to enter the transpacific trade in April, and will allow the other four carriers to expand their transpacific services.

      In the Asia/U.S. East Coast trade, CMA CGM and China Shipping will launch a weekly service in April. The service, on which Taiwan’s Kien Hung will take slots, will use nine vessels of 2,400 to 2,500 TEUs. So far, Kien Hung had a very limited presence in the transpacific trade by operating an Asia/California/Mexico/West Coast of South America service launched a year ago.

      The new CMA CGM, China Shipping and Kien Hung service will add about 130,000 TEUs in annual one-way capacity to the Pacific trade.

      On the Asia/U.S West Coast route, CMA CGM and Norasia will revise and operate two weekly transpacific services as from April.

      A fast Norasia/CMA CGM shuttle service operated with four 1,250-TEU ships will provide a weekly service connecting Shanghai, Xiamen and Long Beach. The service was previously operated by Norasia on its own.

      The U.S./Asia/Europe 'NCJ' service, operated by CMA CGM, will be revamped with a port rotation shortened to cover only the Asia/Europe trade. The transpacific leg of the NCJ link will be transferred and added to the 'Med Club Express' service of CMA CGM and Norasia, which connects the Mediterranean and Asia.

      The Mediterranean/Asia/U.S. West Coast service of CMA CGM and Norasia will use 12 3,300-TEU ships. Wan Hai will take space on this service.

      Details of the service modifications and their impact on port coverage and transit times have not been announced.

      CMA CGM said that the service changes are subject to the approval of China’s ministry of communications and of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.