Maersk Line effects service changes

Maersk Line has provided an update on its 2009 to 2010 seasonalcapacity provision and other planned network developments for the Asia to Europe, Europe to Middle East and South Asia, and Asia to Middle East trades.

According to Exim News Service, the container shipping giant will implement a measured withdrawal of 2,500 FFE per week from its network, while also expanding its use of eco speeding to reduce fuel intake and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on its main services.
These actions are expected to be in place for 6 months, effective from the end of November.
H Maersk Line will add Middle East port calls to its Asia-Europe services, including the AE7 (add Salalah to West Med and Northern Europe) and the AE1 eastbound (new connections from Northern Europe to Jebel Ali and Jebel Ali to Asia). Combined with various other port calls, these new calls will widen its coverage of the Middle East starting in mid-December 2009.

H ME3 service, covering Mediterranean-South Asia-Middle East, will be withdrawn temporarily. It will continue to provide services to and from Middle East ports via a combination of its AE1, AE6, AE7, AE11 and ME1 services.

These changes will amount to a withdrawal of 2,500 FFE capacity per week from its network.
Maersk Line said it would release specific details of the service changes on October 27 on its website.

While making these changes, Maersk Line will move its Asia-Europe services to the next stage of eco-speeding, meaning reductions in fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions. Container shipping is the most fuel-efficient means of cargo transportation (according to the Network of Transport and Environment), and Maersk Line is at the forefront of developments in this area.

It first introduced slower sailing speeds in its Asia-Europe network in February 2008, and has been making steady progress ever since. Starting at the end of November, all westbound sailings from Asia to Europe will move from 20-22 kn to 17-19 kn average speed. This will be combined with 14-16 kn speeds eastbound to offer best-in-class network coverage and an improved carbon footprint.

The speed change will add 1 or 2 days’ transit time to westbound legs, depending on the service. However, its transit times will remain competitive and the shipping giant will continue to lead the market in schedule reliability.

(Source: Transport Weekly)