Safmarine joins Maersk’s U.S. East Coast/Australia loop

Safmarine joins Maersk’s U.S. East Coast/Australia loop    Safmarine Container Lines will take space from its sister company Maersk Sealand between ports in the U.S. East Coast and Australia. The agreement covers Maersk Sealand’s fortnightly “Oceania” service.
   The move follows the end of a slot charter agreement between Safmarine and Mediterranean Shipping Co., covering the same trade.
   Safmarine will join the “Oceania” service when the 2,226-TEU vessel “Nysted Maersk” departs Sydney March 29. Safmarine will market the service as “East Coast Australia”.
   The “Oceania” service uses four ships averaging 2,525 TEUs and has a full port rotation of Miami; Philadelphia;    Savannah, Ga.; Manzanillo, Panama; Auckland; Melbourne; Sydney; Brisbane; New Plymouth; Wellington; Timaru; Tauranga; Balboa, Panama; Manzanillo; and back to Miami.
   Safmarine said its Australia/U.S. West Coast transshipment service is being discontinued.