UASC reshuffles Asia Europe with rate hikes, surcharges

DUBAI's United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) will resume and add to its existing network beginning with its Asia to Europe Service, the AEC2 which stopped at Christmas last year and merged with its AEC1 loop due to weakening demand.

In doing so, rates will increase US$150 per TEU and US$300 per FEU on shipments from Asia to Red Sea ports from September 1. There will also be a peak season surcharge on cargo from Asia to Northern Europe from $150 to $450 per TEU with overweight surcharges of $150 for TEU over 40 tons, $250 for TEU for over 18 tons.

The resumed service will deploy nine 6,900-TEU ships owned by UASC and slot-swap with Hanjin Shipping on a rotation of Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen (Yantian), Singapore, Port Kelang, Jeddah, Suez, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Suez, Jeddah, Khor Fakkan, Singapore and back to Busan.

Benefits include competitive transits and more space, particularly on the westbound trade Asia/Red Sea/North Europe, said the company. Eastbound, a Le Havre call is added to the Red Sea-Mideast run, reported American Shipper.

According to Dynaliners maritime newsletter, further updates of services include the extension of a service jointly operated with Hanjin Shipping on its Indian subcontinent-Mideast-US east coast and Mideast, India and north Africa service to the Far East increasing capacity to 13 ships, 10 of which are UASC-owned and three are from Hanjin.

The rotation will be Singapore, Tianjin, Hakata, Busan, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Singapore, Khor Fakkan, Dubai, Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Port Said, Cagliari, La Spezia, Barcelona, Valencia, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Valencia, Genoa, Port Said, Jeddah, Khor Fakkan and Singapore.

"UASC and other liner shipping companies will continuously update services to optimise routes and offer competitive transit times - especially on their more active routes," said the company.

(Source: www.schednet.com)