UASC resumes Asia/Europe service, hikes surcharges

UASC resumes Asia/Europe service, hikes surcharges    United Arab Shipping Co. said Sunday it will officially resume its AEC2 service between the Far East, Red Sea and Northern Europe.
   The loop had been suspended and merged into the AEC1 loop in December 2008, due to declining demand in the trade. However, it was rumored in early August that UASC would restart the loop.
   Port rotation for the AEC2 service is Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Yantian, Singapore, Port Kelang, Jeddah, Suez, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Suez, Jeddah, Khor Fakkan, Singapore and Busan.
   The service will be operated with nine 6,900-TEU vessels, all owned by UASC, with Hanjin Shipping participating through a slot-swap agreement.
   Meanwhile, the AEC1 will be bolstered by new calls at Jubail and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Bandar Abbas in Iran. While the AEC2 bypasses the Persian Gulf and has calls in Europe, the AEC1 is solely a Far East/Persian Gulf loop.
   The updated AEC1 rotation is Xingang, Busan, Xiamen, Yantian, Hong Kong, Singapore, Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Jubail, Bandar Abbas, Khor Fakkan, Singapore and Xingang.
   'The reintroduced AEC2 and AEC1, with their new rotations and schedules, offer improved services covering additional strategic ports,' the carrier said. 'UASC customers will also benefit from competitive transit times and additional space, particularly on the westbound trade Asia/Red Sea/North Europe. On the eastbound trade, the adding of Le Havre port offers a direct service to Red Sea and Middle East destinations (from North France).'
   On Friday, the maritime newsletter Dynaliners reported that UASC would be extending its Indian Subcontinent-Middle East-U.S. East Coast MINA service to the Far East. The service is jointly operated with Hanjin.
   The convoluted new rotation, according to Dynaliners, will be Singapore, Tianjin, Hakata, Busan, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Singapore, Khor Fakkan, Dubai, Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Port Said, Cagliari, La Spezia, Barcelona, Valencia, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Valencia, Genoa, Port Said, Jeddah, Khor Fakkan and Singapore.
   The report said the service will now be operated with 13 vessels (10 from UASC and three from Hanjin). Previously, the service was operated with nine vessels of about 4,000 TEUs (six from UASC and three from Hanjin.
   On Monday, UASC also announced a rate hike of $150 per TEU and $300 per FEU on all shipments from Asia to Red Sea ports. The increase is effective Sept. 1-30.
   And the carrier also said it would increase its peak season surcharge for containers moving from Asia to Northern Europe. The peak season surcharge will increase from $150 per TEU to $450 per TEU beginning Sept. 1. Additionally, UASC will assess an overweight surcharge of $150 for 20-foot containers that weigh more than 14 tons and $250 for 20-footers that weigh more than 18 tons. The overweight surcharge also goes into effect Sept. 1.