Grand Alliance cuts transpacific capacity

Grand Alliance cuts transpacific capacity    Grand Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, NYK and OOCL said they will reduce transpacific capacity and make other modifications as part of a “winter program” for U.S. West Coast services.
   The program will begin at the end of the month and “will continue at least throughout the winter period.”
   The Central China Express (CCX) service will be temporary replaced by a combined service with the Northwest Express (NWX) service. In the newly combined loop, the Grand Alliance will provide six 6,200- to 7,600-TEU size vessels.
   The NWX port rotation during the winter program will be Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Pusan, Seattle (for discharge), Vancouver (discharge), Los Angels, Seattle (for loading), Vancouver (loading), Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Pusan and Ningbo.
   In addition, the Super Shuttle Express (SSX) will provide enhanced coverage including a new call at Shanghai. The alliance will maintain provision of five 7,600-TEU vessels.
   The new SSX port rotation during the winter program will be Shekou, Yantian, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Long Beach, Kaohsiung, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Shekou.
   The Grand Alliance noted that MISC Berhad (Malaysia) will withdraw from the alliance Jan. 1.
   Last month the alliance said it would also temporarily suspend its SCE all-water loop for 18 weeks and join the New World Alliance’s NYX service.