Maersk Line has announced further revisions to its Asia-US east coast network, to better suit anticipated demand during the upcoming slack season.
As part of the changes, the Danish shipping group is temporarily withdrawing the Trans-Pacific 10 (TP10) service, with the final eastbound departure leaving Busan on 4 October 2009 and the last westbound call leaving Miami on 31 October 2009.
The new Trans-Pacific 3 (TP3) service will include an eastbound port call at Ningbo, China, which was previously part of TP10, and will continue to travel the Suez Canal eastbound.
The revised Trans-Pacific 7 (TP7) service will include an eastbound call at Busan and features a new port offering at Da Chan Bay in China, offering expanded port coverage and quicker access for customers moving cargo to and from the Pearl River Delta in Guangzhou Province. The service will also service Qingdao cargo to the US east coast via Yokohama, with the revised TP3 service accommodating export cargo to Qingdao via Tanjung Pelepas.
'Adjustments to the TP3 and TP7 services will ensure Maersk Line continues to provide a comprehensive product with broad port coverage while minimising impact to customers,' the group said in a statement. 'Should the trans-Pacific trade develop a need for increased capacity, services can be added to meet the needs of our customers.'
Meanwhile, the group has also announced another round of rate changes, this time on services on Asia-west coast of South America trade and on west coast of South America-Vietnam services.
The changes have been made as a result of current unnacceptable levels that are unsustainable in the long term, according to the group, with alterations deemed necessary for the continuation of services at a high level of reliability.
Changes on services from the west coast of South America to Ho Chi Minh are:
- US$70 per 20ft dry container, effective 1 September 2009
- US$150 per 40ft dry container, effective 1 September 2009
Changes on services from the west coast of South America to Haiphong are:
- US$150 per 20ft dry container, effective 1 September 2009
- US$300 per 40ft dry container, effective 1 September 2009
Changes on services from Asia to the west coast of South America are:
- US$300 per 20ft dry container, effective 19 September 2009
- US$600 per 40ft dry container, effective 19 September 2009
