CMA CGM turns RTW service into all-water loop

   The liner carrier CMA CGM said it will make amendments to its Asia-U.S. East Coast network that center around changing its existing around-the-world PEX3 service into a straightforward all-water transpacific loop.
   In concert with that move, the French line will take slots on an existing China Shipping/Evergreen Line/UASC all-water service that covers ports to be dropped on the revised PEX3 loop, notably Savannah and New York.
   CMA CGM’s revised Asia-U.S. East Coast network, from March 28, will be:

• PEX3, which will have a rotation of Xiamen, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (Panama), Houston, Mobile, Miami, Jacksonville, and Xiamen. The service will be operated with 11 CMA CGM vessels of 5,500 TEUs.
• Manhattan Bridge, which is what CMA CGM will call the China Shipping/Evergreen/UASC loop, which has a rotation of Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Hong Kong, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, and Shanghai. According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, the service is currently operated with nine vessels (three from China Shipping, three from UASC, two from Evergreen, and one currently unallocated) with an average capacity of 3,788 TEUs. China Shipping calls the service AAE1, Evergreen calls it AUE2, and UASC calls it AUC1.

   The current rotation of the PEX3 is Hong Kong, Chiwan, Xiamen, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (Panama), Houston, Mobile, Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, New York/New Jersey, Tangier, Jebel Ali, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
   CMA CGM also operates a service via Suez on the Asia-U.S. East Coast trade in tandem with Maersk Line, the TP3/TP9/Columbus, which remains unaffected by the changes to the PEX3. — Eric Johnson