MSC/CSAV start WCSA-Europe loop

   The liner carriers Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) and CSAV will start a jointly operated service between the west coast of South America and northern Europe.
   The service, dubbed Ecuador Express by CSAV, will have a rotation of Guayaquil, Balbo, Cristobal, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Balboa, and Guayaquil. It will be operated with six vessels, with an average capacity per vessel of more than 4,000 TEUs. As of now, MSC and CSAV are each providing one vessel, though it’s unclear which line will provide the remaining four. The service is due to start Oct. 28.
   The two lines have cooperated on a number of services since CSAV announced in summer it was seeking service partners on a number of trades. The Chilean line has pulled a number of strings and joined MSC services either as a slot buyer or vessel provider.