OOCL vessel

Container shipping lines APL, Maersk Line and OOCL have announced a new cooperation agreement on three existing Far East to Indian Subcontinent services, starting in February.

In a slot-sharing agreement that includes CMA CGM, Emirates Shipping line, Hamburg Sud and Regional Container Lines, 18 vessels with a total capacity of some 17,500 TEU will be deployed on three Far East-Indian Subcontinent services.

The improved network will allow carriers to offer three weekly sailings covering China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, compared to one weekly sailing currently offered by each liner.

In a joint statement, the partner carriers said: 'Our multi-carrier cooperation will provide more frequent sailings between Asia's major trading hubs, and at the same time eliminate unnecessary service duplications. The enhanced Far East-Indian Subcontinent services will offer shippers flexible and competitive options best catered to their needs.'