Japanese lines restructure intra-Asia loops

Ocean carriers NYK and “K” Line will split their joint MET/Jaseco-5 service into two loops, while NYK will separately terminate its PHX2 string and adjust its PHX1 service.    Ocean carrier NYK Line is ending its PHX2 service and altering its PHX1 loop, both of which operate between Japan and Southeast Asia. In addition, the Japanese line will split its jointly operated MET/Jaseco-5 loop with “K” Line, which also connects Japan with Taiwan, the Philippines, and Singapore, into two separate loops.
   According to Ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the PHX2 has a rotation of Tokyo, Yokohama, Shimizu, Nagoya, Kobe, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh and Tokyo. The service operates with three vessels with an average capacity of 2,664 TEUs, all of which are provided by NYK. Hanjin and MCC purchase slots on the PHX2, although MCC previously omitted the calls to Shimizu and Ho Chi Minh, according to its online service schedules.
   The PHX2 will be terminated after the Oct. 7 sailing of the NYK Joanna from Tokyo, but the vessel will cease sailing on the route in Southeast Asia, according to all participating carriers’ online service schedules. The loop’s last full voyage was the Sept. 17 sailing of the NYK Joanna from Tokyo.
    NYK altered the rotation of its PHX1 service with the Oct. 5 sailing of the NYK Daniella from Laem Chabang. The new rotation is now Kobe, Tokyo, Shimizu, Nagoya, Tokyo, Yokohama, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh and Kobe. MCC joined the loop with this voyage, but the intra-Asian Maersk Line subsidiary again will not call Shimizu or Ho Chi Minh, according to its online service schedules. Hanjin and Hyundai will continue to purchase slots on the loop.
   The PHX1 had a previous rotation of Osaka, Kobe, Tokyo, Yokohama, Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh and Osaka.
   The three vessels from the terminated PHX2 – the NYK Daniella, the NYK Isabel and the NYK Joanna – are moving to the PHX1 loop with the new rotation change. The three vessels that operated on the PHX1 loop – the Cape Faro, Cape Ferrol and Cape Franklin – will move to the NYK operated ME1, a product of the MET/Jaseco-5 split.
   As a result, average ship capacity on the PHX1 loop will increase from 1,440 TEUs to 2,664 TEUs with the introduction of the new vessels.
   Meanwhile, NYK and fellow Japanese carrier “K” Line will split their jointly-operated MET/Jaseco-5 into two loops. The current rotation of the MET/Jaseco-5 is Osaka, Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Shimizu, Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Kaohsiung, Subic Bay, Manila, Singapore, Subic Bay, Manila, Kaohsiung and Osaka. The loop operates with five vessels with an average capacity of 2,664 TEUs, according to BlueWater Reporting. NYK provides three vessels and “K” Line provides two, with Hanjin purchasing slots on the service.
   The Oct. 16 sailing of the ACX Pearl from Osaka will be the last sailing of the MET/Jaseco-5 before it splits, but that vessel will also stop sailing on the MET/Jaseco-5 rotation in Southeast Asia. The loop’s last full sailing was be the Sept. 11 sailing of the ACX Pearl from Osaka.
   One of the two new loops, the NYK-operated ME1, will commence with the Oct. 17 sailing of the Cape Ferrol from Manila. It will have a rotation of Osaka, Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Shimizu, Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Kaohsiung, Manila, Kaohsiung and Osaka. Hanjin and “K” Line will purchase slots on the loop, which will operate with the three vessels with an average capacity of 1,440 TEUs. 
   The second of the two loops, the “K” Line operated Jaseco-5S, will commence with the Oct. 13 sailing of the Callao Bridge from Subic Bay. The service will have a rotation of Subic Bay, Manila, Singapore, Port Kelang and Subic Bay. NYK and Hanjin will purchase slots on the loop, but Hanjin will only participate on calls between Manila and Singapore. The Jaseco-5S will operate with two vessels with an average vessel capacity of 2,450 TEUs.
   In addition, NYK also began purchasing slots on “K” Line’s JABCO-1 loop between Japan and Southeast Asia this month with the Oct. 6 sailing of the Quezon Bridge from Bangkok. The loop operates with three vessels with an average capacity of 1,708 TEUs and a rotation of Shimizu, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh and Shimizu, according to BlueWater Reporting. It currently appears that NYK will omit the Ho Chi Minh call. SITC is also a slot purchaser on the JABCO-1.