Hapag sailing drops Seattle, Oakland

   A Hapag-Lloyd vessel deployed on a transpacific service leg that was due to call at Seattle and Oakland last week was diverted to Manzanillo, Mexico, the carrier said in a notice.
   The line’s Kobe Express is deployed on the Grand Alliance PAX service connecting China and Japan, with the U.S. West and East coasts, and Northern Europe.
   The service calls only Seattle and Oakland eastbound on the transpacific before transiting the Panama Canal and calling U.S. East Coast and Northern European ports.
   Hapag-Lloyd said the skipped calls last week were due to “technical issues.”
   “All cargo destined to the port of Oakland and Seattle will now be discharged in Manzanillo, Mexico,” the line said to its customers. “We are doing our utmost to bring all cargo to the final destination at the shortest possible time. We will keep you closely advised of specific plans as they are concluded.”
   The service also calls at Manzanillo, Panama. According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, the PAX has a rotation of Antwerp, Thamesport, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Halifax, New York/New Jersey, Norfolk, Savannah, Manzanillo (Panama), Los Angeles, Oakland, Yokohama, Kobe, Kaohsiung, Yantian, Hong Kong, Shekou, Kobe, Nagoya, Tokyo, Seattle, Oakland, Balboa, Manzanillo (Panama), Savannah, Norfolk, New York/New Jersey, Halifax, and Antwerp. It’s operated with 14 Hapag-Lloyd, vessels, with Grand Alliance partners NYK Line and OOCL taking slots.
   According to OOCL’s online schedule, the Kobe Express was due to call Seattle Dec. 11 and Oakland Dec. 14. The Hapag-Lloyd notice didn’t say whether other sailings will be affected.