Lines join Asia/Americas loops, use bigger ships

Lines join Asia/Americas loops, use bigger ships    CMA CGM, CSAV and China Shipping said Friday they will jointly run a two-loop service between Asia and the Americas beginning in April.
   The services would initially appear to be an amalgam of two existing services — CSAV's 11-ship ANDEX service and the joint CMA CGM-China Shipping ACSA service — with larger vessels to be rotated into both loops.
   According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, the ANDEX has operated with 11 CSAV vessels with an average capacity of 4,217 TEUs. It has a rotation of Yokohoma, Keelung, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Callao, Iqique, Antofagasta, San Antonio, San Vicente, San Antonia, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Long Beach and Yokohama.
   The ACSA service has operated with 12 vessels (nine from CMA CGM and three from China Shipping) with an average capacity of 2,593 TEUs. It has a rotation of Shantou, Chiwan, Nansha, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Puerto Quetzal, Acajutla, Corinto, Puerto Caldera, Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio, San Vicente, Callao, Buenaventura, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Quetzal, Manzanillo and Shantou.
   The carriers didn't release specific details about the new rotations, but did say that Loop 1 would link Asia with Mexico, Peru and Chile, while Loop 2 would link Asia with Mexico, Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica), Colombia and Ecuador. Loop 1 is slated to be operated with 11 6,500-TEU vessels while Loop 2 would be operated with 10 4,200-TEUs ships. CMA CGM said it would provide three vessels on each service.
   'CMA CGM will provide a significantly upgraded service with the introduction of 6,500-TEU containerships, the biggest vessels ever deployed in this market, but also improved transit times for the transport of refrigerated goods particularly sensitive to travel times,” said Jean-Yves Duval, director Central and South America and Caribbean lines for CMA CGM.