Carriers boost Asia/Africa loop

Carriers boost Asia/Africa loop    A Far East/Africa ocean service offered by China Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd will increase frequently with the arrival of 'K' Line earlier this month as an operator on the loop.
   The service, which China Shipping dubs WAX and Hapag-Lloyd calls WSX, will run weekly from July 21. The service has operated every two weeks according to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data.
   As part of the increased frequency, the carriers will call two of the ports on the rotation — Lome, Togo, and Cotonou, Benin — on alternate weeks.
   AmericanShipper.com reported July 1 that 'K' Line would join the service as an operator, providing three vessels and bumping the number of vessels on the service from five to eight. The added ships have allowed the existing operators of the service to increase its frequency.
   According to ComPair Data, the service operates with five 2,500-TEU vessels — four provided by China Shipping and one by Hapag-Lloyd.
   The revised rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Shekou, Port Klang, Durban, Tema, Lome or Cotonou (alternate weeks), Tin Can Island, Durban, Port Klang and Shanghai.