New World Alliance announces transpacific service changes

The New World Alliance (TNWA) carriers, APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), announced service and capacity changes, which will include the Grand Alliance (GA) lines, Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).

From early December 2009, the GA will jointly operate the New York Express (NYX) with TNWA. TNWA will provide six ships and the GA three vessels. APL, HMM and MOL will each withdraw one ship from the service.

In addition to a recently added Yokohama call, the NYX port coverage will be enhanced with an additional call at Shekou. The revised port rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Yantian, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Panama Canal, Manzanillo, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Jacksonville, Miami, Manzanillo, Panama Canal, Balboa, Yokohama and Pusan.

The NYX service will continue to be an essential part of the TNWA Asia-US East Coast via the Panama Canal service offerings as well as the APX (Atlantic Pacific Express).

The changes made will reduce trade capacity by approximately 4,000 TEU, which is in line with continued challenging market conditions.<Korea Shipping Gazette>