Grand Alliance enhances Asia/Med loop

Grand Alliance enhances Asia/Med loop Grand Alliance carriers Hapag-Lloyd, MISC Berhad, NYK and OOCL will from mid-June phase in larger ships, add an eighth vessel and include Korea’s Port of Busan to their weekly Asia/Mediterranean EUM service.
   In response to “increasing cargo volume” the lines will replace the present 4,400-TEU ships operating on the EUM with vessels averaging about 6,500 TEUs, starting from the week beginning June 17.
   The revised port rotation of the EUM will be Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Kelang, Damietta, Genoa, Barcelona, Fos, Damietta, Singapore Hong Kong and back to Busan.
   The New World Alliance — APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and MOL — take slots on the EUM as part of an exchange agreement between the two carrier groups that commenced at the start of 2006.