German-based shipping groups Hamburg Süd and Hapag-Lloyd have agreed to extend their cooperation on the Europe-South America East Coast Trade and rationalise the North Atlantic service, to offer comprehensive port coverage and battle falling transatlantic volumes.
In the North Europe-South America East Coast trade, the two groups will operate two complementary weekly services on a fixed-day frequency.
Sling 1 of the service will see calls at Rotterdam, Tilbury, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Santos, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande, Santos, Sepetiba and Rotterdam, while Sling 2's port rotation is Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Sepetiba, Paranagua, Navegantes, Santos, Salvador, Rotterdam.
Meanwhile, Hamburg Süd has confirmed that it is 'indefinitely suspending' its standalone service and is replacing it by participating in the Atlantic Express Service of the Grand Alliance.
The move, which must first gain FMC approval, is a result of declining volume and revenue levels in transatlantic trade, with the group saying that it hoped a capacity reduction would contribute to balancing supply and demand.
'At the same time, the cooperation with the Grand Alliance provides Hamburg Süd's customer base with a cost competitive, high quality product,' the group said.
