Carriers form transpacific VSA

Carriers form transpacific VSA    Great Western Steamship Co., Maruba Line and U.S. Lines Ltd. said Tuesday they have concluded a vessel sharing agreement to operate a weekly service between Shekou and Hong Kong and the Los Angeles, Long Beach gateway.
      The VSA, known as the “Americas Alliance.” will commence Feb. 27 with the sailing of the vessel “Oder Trader” from Shekou. The service will use five 2,100-TEU vessels, with each line contributing tonnage.
   It is not known how the new VSA will effect the Great Western's and U.S. Lines' existing independent transpacific services.
   The carriers said they plan to introduce new services in markets they do not already serve, through deployment of additional tonnage and cooperation with other carriers.
   Plans are already under discussion for a second transpacific string calling at South and North China ports to Los Angeles, Long Beach gateway and Pacific Northwest ports, to start in the second quarter of 2006, the carriers said.
   In addition, the parties said they are also discussing the implementation of a service in the second or third quarter of 2006 from South and North China ports to the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, which would include service to the West Coast of South America.