Capacity reduced on Far East/Mideast service

Capacity reduced on Far East/Mideast service    A COSCO Container Lines ocean service connecting the Far East and Middle East will see capacity reduced and a change in operating partners, according to research from American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data.
   The MEX/MAX service has operated with six vessels with an average size of 6,880 TEUs, with COSCO providing five ships and Mediterranean Shipping Co. one. As of Monday, COSCO and OOCL will each provide three smaller vessels, averaging 5,175 TEUs.
   The decrease in weekly capacity is about 25 percent. The length of the loop and service rotation will remain the same, ComPair Data said. Rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Dammam, Bandar Abass, Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ningbo.
   Emirates Line and Hyundai Merchant Marine are slot buyers on the service.