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In response to depressed
trading conditions on the Asia-ECSA trade, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Hamburg Süd,
CSCL, NYK HMM are to downgrade the sailing frequency of one of their two
joint Asia-ECSA weekly services. The frequency of the Loop 1 (branded
respectively ‘SEAS 1’ / ‘ASE 1’ / ‘NGX 1’ / ‘ASAX 1’ / ‘NEX 1’ / ‘NE 1’) will
be downgraded from weekly to fortnightly. Slot buyers include Yang Ming, PIL, COSCO, Evergreen, K Line Zim.
Transit times the port coverage will remain unaffected by this change,
with the service continuing to call at Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Hong
Kong, Singapore, Port Kelang, Itaguai (Sepetiba), Santos, Itapoa, Navegantes,
Paranagua, Santos, Itaguai (Sepetiba), Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong,
Busan. It turns in 84 days, using a nominal number of 12 vessels of 8,000-9,900
teu in a weekly configuration. Three sailings have been skipped in the past
few weeks. With frequencies downgraded to fortnightly sailings, only six
vessels will be needed on a permanent basis.
The service will kick-start in its downgraded mode with the sailing of the
CMA CGM CONGO from Busan on 19 February. The Loop 2 continues to run on a
weekly basis, using 8,000-10,500 teu tonnage.
It is the second rationalization carried out this month, after the decision
of Maersk Line, MSC MOL are to merge their two current loops a
single one.
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