APL launches new intra-Asia loops

The ocean carrier has announced three new services between South China and the Philippines that will commence sailing by the beginning of December.    Ocean carrier APL will launch three new weekly container services between South China and the Philippines in the next month: the China-Philippines Loop 1 (CP1), China-Philippines Loop 2 (CP2) and China-Philippines Loop 3 (CP3).
   The CP1 and CP2 services will feature a two-day transit time between Shekou and Manila, while the CP3 will offer transit times of four and five days from Yantian to Manila North and South, respectively, APL, now a subsidiary of CMA CGM, said in a statement.
   The port rotation for the CP1 and CP2 services will be Hong Kong, Nansha, Chiwan, Manila and back to Hong Kong and both will commence sailing from Hong Kong on Dec. 5, APL said. Both services will operate on a weekly frequency with one vessel each.
   The CP3 loop will commence sailing from Yantian Nov. 23 and will have a port rotation of Yantian, Nansha, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Manila, Shantou, and Yantian. The CP3 will operate with four vessels on a 28-day rotation.
   Vessel names and capacities have not yet been announced for the three services.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, APL currently purchases slots on one service to Manila North Harbor, the joint “K” Line, CMA CGM, TS Lines and COSCO SWACO-2 service.APL is a slot purchaser on two other services calling Manila South Harbor, CNC Line’s China-1 service and the HMM and CNC Line co-operated TTP/CTP service.