MSC pulls Europe/Mexico, adds Israel/Europe

MSC pulls Europe/Mexico, adds Israel/Europe    Ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. has suspended a service connecting northern Europe with Houston and Mexico, according to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data.
   The Mexico Express service had a rotation of Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Veracruz, Altamira, Houston and Antwerp. It was operated with five MSC vessels with an average capacity of 2,632 TEUs.
   Interestingly, while MSC is pulling capacity out of the trade, a CMA CGM-CSAV service linking the same ports (albeit with a longer rotation) in set to commence Oct. 10. The service is a revised version of a loop CMA CGM runs in conjunction with MSC (which CMA CGM calls Victory Bridge and MSC calls South Atlantic). That service is operated with seven bigger ships (6,700 TEUs), with MSC providing all but one of the seven.
   As reported by American Shipper July 1 the revised Victory Bridge service for CMA CGM will have a rotation of Le Havre, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Charleston, Miami, Vera Cruz, Altamira, Houston, Miami and Le Havre.
   It will be operated with five 3,000-TEU ships, three from CMA CGM and two from CSAV.
   MSC also said this week it will start a new service connecting Israel and Northern Europe.
   The Israel Express service, which begins Aug. 23, will have a rotation of Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Mersin, Haifa, Ashdod, Valencia and Felixstowe.
   The carrier said the service is specifically targeted at agriculture shippers in southern Israel.