COSCO raising Europe-ECSA rates

   COSCO Container Lines said Tuesday it plans to hike rates on the trade from Northern Europe to the east coast of South America from May 6.
   The increase, 200 euros per TEU and 400 euros per FEU, is applicable on the line’s ESE service. COSCO takes slots on Maersk Line and Safmarine’s Samba service, dubbing it ESE. It’s the line’s only connection between Northern Europe and the east coast of South America. Other slot buyers on the service are Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Hanjin Shipping.
   According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, the service has a rotation of Tilbury, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Algeciras, Santos, Paranagua, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande, Porto Itapoa, Santos, Algeciras, and Tilbury. It’s operated by seven vessels (six from Maersk and one from Safmarine) with an average capacity of 3,913 TEUs.