CMA CGM AND CHINA SHIPPING ENTER ASIA/U.S. EAST COAST TRADE

CMA CGM AND CHINA SHIPPING ENTER ASIA/U.S. EAST COAST TRADE    French shipping line CMA CGM and China Shipping Group are entering the Asia/U.S. East Coast trade next week.
   The new fixed-day weekly “PEX” all-water service makes its maiden voyage when “CGM Delacroix” departs from Busan on April 6. The New York to Hong Kong transit is 36 days, with a Hong Kong-to-New York transit of 27 days.
   The full rotation of the service is New York; Norfolk; Savannah; Kingston, Jamaica; Busan; Qingdao; Shanghai; Yantian; Hong Kong; Kingston;
New York; Norfolk; and Savannah.
   Comprehensive transit times between all the ports on the “PEX” service and for hundreds of other liner services are available from the free global shipping database ComPairSchedules at https://www.compairschedules.com .
   The “PEX” service will deploy nine vessels with an average capacity of 2,400 TEUs. CMA CGM will initially provide seven vessels, with China Shipping contributing the other two.
   CMA CGM had originally intended to operate only five vessels but, with Kien Hung deciding not to join the service, the French carrier is chartering two extra vessels.
   A spokesperson for CMA CGM said that talks are continuing with a number of carriers, that could become partners in the new “PEX” service as replacement for Kien Hung.
   The “PEX” service follows a series of joint service agreements made by CMA CGM and China Shipping in the Asia/Europe trade.
   COSCO, “K” Line and Yangming will also launch an all-water Asia/U.S. East Coast service in April.