Hyundai to join Maersk-CMA transpacific services

Hyundai to join Maersk-CMA transpacific services    Korean ocean carrier Hyundai Merchant Marine said this week it is increasing its connections from Asia to the U.S. East Coast through an agreement with Maersk Line, CMA CGM and APL.
   Hyundai will contribute a vessel on one all-water Panama service, which links northern Chinese and Korean ports to Miami, New York and Savannah, and will buy slots on another service, which connects Asian ports to the U.S. East Coast via the Suez Canal.
   The services, in which Maersk and CMA CGM provide the bulk of the vessels, are due to start in June.
   The all-water Panama service, which Hyundai calls the CSX, will use eight vessels with an average capacity of 3,800 TEUs on a rotation of Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Busan, Panama Canal, Savannah, New York and Miami. Transit time from Busan to Savannah is 20 days, and 23 days to New York. Miami to Ningbo transit time is 22 days.
   The Suez service, which Hyundai markets as the SNX, will use 14 ships with an average capacity of 6,000 TEUs. It links Shanghai, South China and Southeast Asian ports to Norfolk, New York and Savannah. It has a rotation of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Suez, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Tanjung Pelepas, Hong Kong, Yantian and Shanghai.
   The carrier said the SNX will provides the only direct link between Tanjung Pelepas, a major transshipment hub in Malaysia, and the United States. The service is scheduled to sail via the Cape of Good Hope on the return leg to Asia.
   The first vessels in the new services are due to depart from Asia May 10 and May 14, respectively.