Please note that in your cover story in the January issue — “The 3 percent rule” (pages 32-38) — the writer overlooked the fact that UASC also ordered nine 13,500-TEU ships ( A13 Class) of which two have already been delivered and the rest to be delivered in the first half of this year. They will be deployed in a very responsible manner in joint services with CMA CGM and China Shipping Container Line. In fact, in the much hyped Asia-North Europe trade, UASC would be deploying less slots with the A13 Class than it currently does with the A7 Class.
This goes to show that carriers outside the Big 9 (as described in your article) could benefit from the economies of scale but not overburden already over-tonnaged trade lanes.
Anil J. Vitarana
president, United Arab Agencies Inc.,
Cranford, N.J.
LETTER: UASC’s ‘responsible’ vessel deployment
