CSAV bolsters inbound service from Asia

CSAV bolsters inbound service from Asia    Chile's Compania Sudamericana de Vapores is expanding its offerings from Asia by starting a service to Mexico, the Caribbean and North Coast South America, as well as taking slots on a loop serving South Africa.
   The Pacific Caribbean (PACAR) service will launch in the next few weeks, initially operating on a fortnightly basis with five vessels of 1,700-TEU capacities, each equipped with reefer plugs for 200 reefer containers.
   The port rotation of the PACAR will be Busan; Shanghai; Chiwan; Hong Kong; Manzanillo, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal; Puerto Caldera; Manzanillo, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; Rio Haina; San Juan; Puerto Cabello; Cartagena; Puerto Caldera; Puerto Quetzal and back to Busan.
   In June, CSAV will take slots from 'K' Line on its recently expanded Asia South Africa Service, which CSAV will market as the Discovery service. Operated jointly by 'K' Line, MISC and Pacific International Lines, the service was previously only a shuttle loop between Singapore and Durban but now calls Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Kelang, Colombo, Durban, Cape Town, Colombo, Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
   As part of the slot exchange deal with 'K' Line, the Japanese line will also take slots on CSAV's Asia/East Coast South America/South Africa ASAX service, which will include additional calls at Chiwan in China.
   The ASAX's revised port rotation will be Ningbo, Shanghai, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Santos, Buenos Aires, Paranagua, Itajai, Santos, Durban, Singapore, and Ningbo.
   'The addition of the PACAR service offering direct access to the Caribbean, alongside the enhancement to the ASAX service and introduction of the Discovery service, will give CSAV's customers further choice in connecting Asia to these important trading regions and offer wider coverage on these North-South trade lanes,' CSAV said in a statement.