Carrier alliances join on Asia/U.S. East Coast service

 Carriers in the New World and Grand alliances on Tuesday said they would cooperate on a revised Asia/U.S. East Coast service from Dec. 3 as slowing demand has necessitated pullbacks in capacity.

   The move will see nine ships, rather than eight, deployed on the New World Alliance's NYX service, which connects ports in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea to New York, Norfolk, Savannah and Miami. The New World Alliance -- APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and MOL -- will provide five of the ships, with the Grand Alliance -- Hapag-Lloyd, NYK Line and OOCL -- will provide the other four. The Grand Alliance had operated a similar service, the SCE (South China Express), but the loops will be joined for 18 weeks to compensate for low seasonal demand, said a statement from the Grand Alliance.

   The revised NYX service will also make an additional westbound call at San Pedro and an eastbound stop at Shekou. The new port rotation is Shanghai, Shekou, Yantian, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Panama Canal, Manzanillo, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Miami, Manzanillo, San Pedro and Pusan.

   The service changes have been made to adjust capacity to significantly lower demand, while ensuring customers' transportation needs continue to be met, the New World Alliance said in a statement. 

Source: American Shipper