ASIA/AUSTRALIA CONSORTIUM ENDS THIRD LOOP

    Anscon, the major Asia/Australia consortium that includes "K" Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, NYK, Orient Overseas Container Line, Yangming Marine Transport, Australian National Line, P&O Swire and Zim, will terminate one of its three weekly container services on Nov. 1.
    Anscon had added a third weekly loop in June, providing direct calls at the North China ports of Qingdao and Shanghai.
    The consortium is now ending the 5-ship Loop 3 and adding one vessel to Loop 1, bringing it to a six-vessel operation.
    The expanded Loop 1 service will pick up direct calls at Qingdao and Shanghai that were previously served by Loop 3, with a rotation of Qingdao, Shanghai, Keelung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shekou, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbame, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Keelung and Qingdao.
    OOCL, a member of Anscon, said that the two remaining loops will maintain a wide port coverage.