Grand and New World slow Asia-Med EUM

   The Grand and New World alliances of liner shipping companies have added a 10th vessel to their joint weekly EUM service between Asia, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, increasing roundtrip voyage time from 63 days to 70 days, according to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data. 
   Transit times eastbound from the Mediterranean to South Korea and China have increased by about seven days, as vessels will slow steam one week on the return leg between Hong Kong and Busan. 
   The rotation of the EUM remains Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Kelang, Jeddah, Damietta, Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia, Damietta, Jeddah, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Busan. The service is currently operated with 10 vessels, three from MOL, two each from NYK, OOCL, and Hapag-Lloyd, and one from APL, with an average capacity of 6,885 TEUs.
   The Grand Alliance comprises Japan-based NYK Line, Hong Kong-based OOCL and Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, and New World Alliance members are Singapore-owned APL, Japan’s MOL and Hyundai Merchant Marine of South Korea. The two alliances jointly operate a portfolio of six Asia-North Europe services under the G6 Alliance moniker. The EUM, which only serves the Med, is not part of the G6 network.
   Of the G6 Asia-Europe services, only the LP7 calls the Mediterranean directly, stopping in Tangiers, Morroco eastbound en route to Singapore.
   In addition, the Grand Alliance and New World Alliance carriers each separately offer one weekly direct Asia-to-east coast North America service that connects Asia with the Mediterranean in passing. – ComPair Data, Ben Meyer