Two services operating between the South American East Coast and the North American East Coast are to rationalise in a bid to better cope during rapidly changing market conditions.
The Hamburg Süd and Alianca-operated Tango service is set to merge with the CSAV-run USAtlan service, pending Federal Maritime Commission approval – a move forced by a drop in market volumes of up to 40 per cent over the past 12 months.
The 'New Tango' string will be operated with seven ships with a nominal intake of 3,500 TEU each, of which five will be provided by Hamburg Süd/Alianca and two by CSAV.
The port rotation for the new service is New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, Port Everglades, Puerto Cabello, Suape, Santos, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, Navegantes, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Suape, Pecem, New York.
'The new service configuration will provide a quality product better matched to market needs, more comprehensive port coverage and competitive transit times in all major lanes,' the groups said in a joint statement.
