COSCO, Hanjin to rationalize Asia/North Europe loops in June
Hanjin Shipping and COSCO Container Lines will rationalize their joint services connecting the Far East and northern Europe in mid-June.
A total of 31 5,500-TEU vessels — 16 provided by Hanjin and 15 from COSCO — will be deployed on the joint routes. In a joint statement COSCO and Hanjin said the rationalization will give customers wider service coverage, higher frequency and shorter transit times.
COSCO and Hanjin are members of the strategic CKYH alliance. Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. and Yang Ming Marine will participate in the rationalization by slot exchange.
As of mid June the CKYH Alliance will offer the following five services within the Asia/north Europe trade:
* North China Express Service (NCX): Operated with eight 5,500-TEU vessels provided by COSCO. Port rotation of Shanghai, Dalian, Qingdao, Singapore, Port Said, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Hamburg, Antwerp, Singapore, Hong Kong and back to Shanghai.
* Asia Europe Express Service (AEX): Operated with eight 5,500-TEU vessels, five provided by Hanjin and three by COSCO. Port rotation of Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Port Kelang, Colombo, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Le Havre, Port Said, Colombo, Port Kelang, Hong Kong and back to Shanghai.
* Far East Europe Express Service (FEX): Operated with eight 5,500-TEU vessels provided by Hanjin Shipping. Port rotation of Xingang, Kwangyang, Busan, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Felixstowe, Singapore, Kaohsiung and back to Xingang.
* South China Express Service (SCX): Operated with seven 5,500-TEU vessels, three provided by Hanjin and four provided by COSCO. Port rotation of Xiamen, Hong Kong, Nansha, Yantian, Jeddah, Antwerp, Hamburg, Felixstowe and back to Xiamen.
* Pacific Southwest Pendulum Express Service (PDS): Operated with seven 4,500-TEU class vessels and five 4,000 TEU vessels, all provided by Hanjin. Full port rotation of Le Havre, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Singapore, Yantian, Hong Kong, Osaka, Tokyo, Long Beach, Oakland, Tokyo, Osaka, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo and back to Le Havre.