GRAND ALLIANCE ADDS SECOND CALL AT XIAMEN

GRAND ALLIANCE ADDS SECOND CALL AT XIAMEN    Grand Alliance carriers Hapag-Lloyd, Malaysian International Shipping Corp., Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Orient Overseas Container Line and P&O Nedlloyd have added a second direct call at the Xiamen International Container Terminals.
   The alliance's Europe service, Loop D, serves the ports of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Hong Kong, Singapore, Suez Canal, Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Malta and Port Klang.
   The service kicked off August 15 with a call by the 5,468-TEU P&O Nedlloyd Mercator at Xiamen. The vessel is the largest ever to call at XICT, a joint venture between Hutchison Delta Ports and Xiamen Haicang Ports Co.
   The largest consortium in the Asia/Europe liner trade, the Grand Alliance introduced calls at the Xiamen terminal on its U.S. West Coast Service in April.