Grand, New World alliances partner on new Asia/U.S. East Coast service

Grand, New World alliances partner on new Asia/U.S. East Coast service    Member lines of the Grand Alliance in the transpacific trade — Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and Orient Overseas Container Line — and The New World Alliance (TNWA) — APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines — said Friday that from August they will commence an Asia/U.S. East Coast service via the Panama Canal.
   Each alliance will contribute ships with capacity of about 3,500 TEUs per vessel to a weekly service that will operate on a 56-day rotation. In Asia, the ports of Shanghai, Chiwan, Shekou and Hong Kong will be served, while Norfolk and Savannah will be called in the United States. The Panamanian port of Manzanillo will be served on the eastbound leg.
   For both alliances, this new service will be the third all-water offering through the Panama Canal, in addition to the PAX and ECN services for the Grand Alliance and the APX and NYX services for The New World Alliance.