Hapag-Lloyd exits CMA CGM Europe/Oceania loop

Hapag-Lloyd exits CMA CGM Europe/Oceania loop    Hapag-Lloyd said last week it is dropping out of a CMA CGM-operated loop connecting Europe, Oceania and the South Pacific via the U.S. East Coast and Panama Canal.
   The service, which CMA CGM calls PAD and Hapag-Lloyd dubs OCE, has a rotation of Tilbury, Rotterdam, Dunkirk, Le Havre, New York, Savannah, Kingston, Manzanillo (Panama), Cristobal, Papeete, Lautoka, Noumea, Sydney, Melbourne, Napier, Tauranga, Cristobal, Manzanillo, Kingston, Savannah, Philadelphia and Tilbury. According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, it's operated with six CMA CGM vessels (though one is unallocated) with an average capacity of 2,320 TEUs. Hapag-Lloyd is a slot buyer on the service, as is Marfret and CMA CGM subsidiary ANL.
   Hapag-Lloyd said it will route northbound cargo on its EAX service, a 13-ship loop it jointly operates with CMA CGM that links Europe with Oceania via the Suez Canal. It has a rotation of Tilbury, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre, La Spezia, Damietta, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Singapore, Port Klang, Chennai, Colombo, Damietta, Malta, La Spezia, and Tilbury.
   According to ComPair Data, only three pure container lines currently provide vessel capacity in services linking Europe and Oceania, with an MSC 13-ship service providing the other connection. ' Eric Johnson