“K” Line, MOL cut Asia/South America loop

“K” Line, MOL cut Asia/South America loop

“K” Line, MOL cut Asia/South America loop

Japanese carriers “K” Line and MOL said Friday they are cutting the second of two loops on their joint New Andes-WL1/2 service starting in February.
   The service, which “K” Line markets as New Andes1/2 and MOL as WL1/2, connects the Far East with Mexico and the West Coast of South America, including ports in Chile, Peru and Colombia. The service’s first loop, which will continue and uses eight vessels of about 2,400 TEUs, only makes South American calls at three Chilean ports. The second loop, using eight 1,700-TEU vessels, calls at two non-Chilean ports on the West Coast of South America, Buenaventura and Callao.
   To make up for the suspension of the second loop, the Japanese carriers are taking slots on a similar service, CEX, operated by Chilean carrier CCNI and Germany's Hamburg S'd. The CEX service stops in Buenaventura but not Callao.
   The service suspension will last six months, the carriers said.