APL to purchase slots on Asia-Latin America loop

Singapore-based ocean carrier APL, now a subsidiary of CMA CGM of France, began purchasing slots on Maersk Line’s AC3 loop between Asia and the West Coast of South America this week, dubbing it the AE3-AW3.    Singapore-based ocean carrier APL, now a subsidiary of CMA CGM of France, this week began purchasing slots on a loop between Asia and Latin America that is operated by Maersk Line.
   According to Maersk, which refers to the service as the AC3, the loop has a full port rotation of Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shekou, Nansha, Ningbo, Gwangyang, Yokohama, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa, Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio, San Vicente, Tauranga and Kaohsiung.
   APL, which calls the service the AE3-AW3, said it joined with the Aug. 23 departure from Kaohsiung, burt did not mention participation in calls to Gwangyang, Yokohama or Tauranga.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the AC3/AE3-AW3 loop deploys 11 vessels with an average capacity of 9,127 TEUs. MSC and Hapag-Lloyd also currently purchase slots on the loop, but Hapag-Lloyd only offers slots from Kaohsiung through San Vicente.