Maersk consolidating intra-Asia business under MCC

Maersk consolidating intra-Asia business under MCC Maersk Line said operation of its intra-Asia business will be consolidated under its sister company Mercantile Cargo Consolidators (MCC Transport) over the next year.
   “Due to the strong market development and our customers’ increasing need to deal with professionals with an in-depth knowledge and focus on this market, Maersk Line will transfer its intra-Asia services to MCC Transport Singapore during 2009,” the company said. “MCC will be our trade specialist in the Intra Asia market.”
   The company said the change would result in more frequent sailings, increased and better port coverage, and allow customers to work with sales and customer service employees who are specialists in the intra-Asia business, resulting in quicker response and faster document turn times.
   Maersk has seven vessels with capacity of 14,900 TEU, which will be combined with MCC’s 32 vessels with 56,820 TEUs of capacity. That gives MCC capacity of about 2.9 million TEUs per year compared to Maersk’s 700,000 TEUs per year.
   MCC also has a much more extensive network in Asia, calling at 34 ports with 103 port calls per week compared to Maersk’s 17 ports and 24 port calls per week. In addition to its feeder fleet MCC will also continue to use space on Maersk Line vessels traversing the region to feed cargo between Asian countries.
   MCC has been wholly owned subsidiary of the A.P. Moller ' Maersk Group since 1993 when it was acquired from the East Asiatic Co. (EAC).