Grand, New World alliances restarting joint Asia/U.S. East Coast loop
The Grand Alliance — Hapag Lloyd, NYK and OOCL — and New World Alliance — APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and MOL — will restart their joint all-water Asia/U.S. East Coast service in the late spring or early summer, a spokesman for Hapag-Lloyd confirmed to American Shipper magazine.
The weekly service, called East Coast South Express (ECS) by members of the Grand Alliance and East Coast 3 (EC3) by the New World Alliance carriers, started in August last year using ships averaging about 3,900 TEUs calling Shanghai; Chiwan; Shekou; Hong Kong; Manzanillo, Panama; Savannah, Ga.; Norfolk, Va.; and back to Shanghai.
The service was suspended just before the turn of the year as part of a capacity reduction program initiated for the slack season.
