Honolulu call new for MOL, “K” Line
Japanese liner carriers 'K' Line and MOL last week announced a new call for them in Honolulu on an existing service they operate with compatriot line NYK Container Line.American Shipper reported on 'K' Line's new call Friday.
The service, which 'K' Line calls ANDES 2 and MOL calls WL2, connects seven ports in the Far East with Manzanillo, Buenaventura and Guayaquil in the Americas. On the westbound backhaul to Asia, it calls at Honolulu.
'K' Line told American Shipper Monday that while the service has been calling at Honolulu since it began in July, 'K' Line previously had not been accepting Honolulu cargoes as the line required time to build up its commercial and operational setup in Hawaii. The Honolulu call represents the first time 'K' Line has served that market.
MOL similarly confirmed to American Shipper Monday that the Honolulu call is new for it as well.
The service, which NYK calls ALEX 2, is operated with nine vessels with an average capacity of 2,597 TEUs, according to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data. NYK is the lead carrier on the loop, providing seven of the ships while MOL and 'K' Line each provide one.
The three Japanese lines also collaborate on another Asia/West Coast South America service, the ANDES 1/ALEX 1/WLS1, which makes seven Asia calls and seven Mexico/South America calls. That service is operated with 10 vessels, with an average capacity of 3,950 TEUs ('K' Line provides five, MOL three and NYK two).
