ONE to join three Asia-WCSA loops

Upon completion of the merger of Japan’s NYK, “K” Line and MOL, the combined Ocean Network Express (ONE) will begin taking slots on three existing services between Asia and the west coast of Latin America.    The Ocean Network Express (ONE), the newly combined carrier formed from the container divisions of Japanese firms NYK, “K” Line and MOL, will begin taking slots on three existing services between Asia and the west coast of Latin America, according to separate statements from the carrier and the current operators of those loops.
   Starting in April, ONE will begin offering space on what it will call the Asia Latin America Express 1 (ALX1), Asia Latin America Express 2 (ALX2), and Asia Latin America Express 3 (ALX3) strings in cooperation with Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), Hapag-Lloyd and HMM, said ONE.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the ALX1 service – which MSC calls INCA, Hapag-Lloyd calls ANDEX1 (AN1), and HMM calls NW1 – is currently operated with 10 vessels, nine from Hamburg Sud and one from CMA CGM, with an average capacity of 7,397 TEUs.
   The loop will drop calls at Xiamen and Mejillones, while adding calls to Lazaro Cardenas and Coronel, leaving a full port rotation of Keelung, Hong Kong, Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (MX), Lazaro Cardenas, Callao, Iquique, Antofagasta, Valparaiso, Coronel, Valparaiso and Keelung. In addition to the abovementioned carriers, China’s COSCO Shipping currently takes slots on the ALX1, along with subsidiary lines Alianca, ANL, APL and CCNI.
   The ALX2 service – which MSC calls ANDES, Hapag-Lloyd calls ANDEX2 (AN2), and HMM calls NW2 – is currently operated with 12 vessels, seven from MSC, three from CMA CGM, and one each from HMM and COSCO, with an average capacity of 11,883 TEUs.
   The operators will drop calls at Kaohsiung and Mejillones on the ALX2, and add calls to Ningbo, Puerto Angamos, and a westbound call to Yokohama, leaving a full port rotation of Busan, Shanghai, Xiamen, Shekou, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Busan, Manzanillo (MX), Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa, Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio, Coronel, Lirquen, San Antonio, Puerto Angamos, Callao, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Yokohama and Busan.
   And the ALX3 service – which MSC calls AZTEC, Hapag-Lloyd calls Asia Mexico Express (TPM), and HMM calls NW3 – is currently operated with 11 vessels, eight from Hapag-Lloyd and three from CMA CGM, with an average capacity of 9,307 TEUs.
   Which of the remaining carriers will step up to provide the necessary ships to operate the ALX1, however, has yet to be determined, according to their online sailing schedules.