Hapag-Lloyd slows AME, adds Qingdao

   The ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd has now added a new port call at Qingdao, China, and a seventh vessel to its weekly AME service between Asia and Mexico. 
   Roundtrip voyage time on the AME has increased from 42 days to 49 days and transit times in both directions on the service have been increased by a few days, now taking 23 days from the Ningbo, China, to Manzanillo, Mexico, and 22 days on the return voyage from Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, to Ningbo. 
   The AME service has a revised rotation of Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Busan, Yokohama, Ensenada, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Ensenada, Yokohama, and Ningbo. The service is currently operated with seven Hapag-Lloyd vessels with an average capacity of 4,652 TEUs. Singapore-owned carrier APL continues to purchase slots on the AME. 
   Besides the AME, Hapag-Lloyd and APL do not operate any other dedicated services between Asia and Mexico. Hapag-Lloyd, however, purchases slots on the NYK, “K” Line and MOL joint weekly ALX/ANDES/CWL service between Asia and the west coast of South America, which calls at Manzanillo (Mexico) in both directions. Hapag-Lloyd also takes slots on the New World Alliance’s weekly transpacific service PS2, which calls at both Manzanillo (Mexico) and Lazaro Cardenas to and from Asia. APL is a member of the New World Alliance. – ComPair Data, Ben Meyer