MAERSK SEALAND TO REDUCE TRANSATLANTIC CAPACITY

MAERSK SEALAND TO REDUCE TRANSATLANTIC CAPACITY    Maersk Sealand will reduce its vessel capacity by about 1,500 TEUs a week on the U.S./northern Europe/U.S. container trade next month (April).
   A Maersk Sealand spokesman said that the carrier is reorganizing its Atlantic deployment, particularly the “TA3/TP3” pendulum service. This northern Europe/Halifax/U.S. East Coast/U.S. West Coast/Asia/U.S. West Coast/U.S. East Coast/northern Europe multi-trade service currently uses 12 ships with a nominal capacity of about 4,400 TEUs.
   Maersk Sealand said that three of the vessels on this service will be redeployed elsewhere, and a reduced Atlantic capacity will be offered. It appears that Maersk Sealand will continue to provide an all-water Asia/U.S. East Coast service with large ships. It is not known whether Maersk will phase smaller vessels to replace the former transatlantic leg of the multi-trade service or whether it will take space on other carriers’ ships.
   The carrier indicated that it would “still provide basically the same port coverage,” but will stop its westbound calls at Halifax from early April.
   Maersk Sealand said that this change is being introduced “because of the still very low rates on the Atlantic trade,” particularly in the eastbound direction. These rates “do not allow us to achieve a satisfactory financial result on this trade,” Maersk Sealand said.
   Other changes to Maersk Sealand’s services are expected, including in the transpacific trade.