Jade out, Tiger back in for MSC

Jade out, Tiger back in for MSC    The Swiss ocean carrier MSC said Tuesday it is withdrawing one of its Asia/Europe services, the Jade service, and transitioning cargo to four other services in the same trade.
   The carrier cited a drive to 'reduce surplus capacity and to match existing and anticipated cargo volumes.' Also influencing the decision are the pending arrivals of new 14,000-TEU vessels this month and next, with MSC saying the move to withdraw the Jade service had been previously planned.
   Jade connected six Chinese terminals in Hong Kong, Singapore and Busan, with Salalah in the Middle East and Gioia Tauro and Valencia in the Mediterranean, according to American Shipper sister company ComPair Data.
   'Jade service cargo for the West Mediterranean and East Mediterranean will be absorbed by using the remaining Silk, Lion, Dragon and Tiger services from the Far East,' the carrier said.
   While Jade is falling by the wayside, MSC is resurrecting its Tiger service, which was suspended in December. The revamped Tiger service will have a rotation of Qingdao, Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Suez Transit, Beirut, Piraeus, Istanbul, Gioia Tauro, Suez Transit, Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Singapore and Qingdao.
   That rotation looks very similar to another MSC service, Phoenix, which connects many of the same ports. A note from China Shipping in mid-May suggested that the Phoenix service may be revamped or disappear.
   In any case, the revamped Tiger service will employ 10 8,200-TEU vessels.
   As for MSC's other Asia/Europe services, the Dragon service will remain the same, with 11 vessels of 8,000 to 8,400 TEUs connecting the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and West Mediterranean.
   The Lion service, an express loop between the Far East and northern Europe, will be operated with 10 9,200-TEU vessels. According to ComPair, the service is run with 11 vessels ranging in capacity from 6,700 to 9,200 TEUs.
   Finally, the Silk service will see capacity upgraded significantly, with many of the carrier's newest, largest ships deployed on this key connector from Asia to northern Europe. The service will see 11 vessels of 11,000 to 14,000 TEUs of capacity, according to the carrier.
   Silk currently employs 10 ships of 9,600 to 14,000 TEUs, according to ComPair.
   American Shipper reported on the larger ships entering the Silk service in early May.