Maersk and MISC to add a second string

Maersk Line together with Malaysia's MISC plan to add a second string to their joint south east Asia-New Zealand service by splitting the existing weekly loop into two weekly slings combined within a nine-week butterfly service (NZ1/NZ2), according to the Shipping Gazette.


Alphaliner reports that the butterfly loop will call at Tanjung Pelepas, Singapore, Brisbane, Auckland, Tauranga, Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas, Singapore, Auckland, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers and back to Tanjung Pelepas.


The service revamp will add a weekly call for Brisbane, direct port calls to Tauranga and Lyttelton, and a second weekly call for Auckland, it said.


The amended service deploys nine 3,500-4,100-TEU ships, including the four used on the current loop.


"As far as Maersk Line is concerned, the new service will include the volumes ensured with the seasonal service usually active during the fruit crop season, from February to July. As for MISC, it is likely that it will transfer to the new butterfly loop the volumes carried through slot buying on the SE Asia-ANZ service ensured by PIL, OOCL, MOL and NYK (NZS)," the report said.
(Source:http://www.transportweekly.com)