Lykes Lines is the latest carrier to have entered the
booming transpacific trade, under a joint service arrangement commencing on Sept. 4.
Lykes will join the Mexico Asia Express transpacific service of APL and
TMM. TMM is a partner of Lykes is the TMM/CP Ships Americana Ships joint venture.
Lykes will contribute a 2,000-TEU vessel, the Lykes Crusader, to the
6-ship weekly service.
The commencement of Lykes’s Pacific service is subject to regulatory
approval.
The carrier will provide an intermodal connection from the U.S. Gulf to
Asia via Los Angeles.
The rotation of the service is Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Busan, Kobe,
Yokohama, Los Angeles, Ensenada (Mexico), Manzanillo (Mexico), Yokohama, Kobe and Hong
Kong.
Lykes, which pulled out of the Pacific trade in the mid-1980’s, has
appointed new agents to represent the company in Asia.
The first eastbound sailing of Lykes’ "Pacific Sprint"
service starts from Hong Kong on Sept. 4, arriving Los Angeles on Sept. 20. Westbound, the
service begins on Sept. 4 from Manzanillo, arriving Yokohama on Sept. 18.
The other carriers which have entered the Pacific this year are
Mediterranean Shipping Co., CMA-CGM, Norasia, Trans-Pacific Lines and Great Western
Steamship.
