Maersk Sealand adds fourth Asia/North Europe loop

Maersk Sealand adds fourth Asia/North Europe loop    Maersk Sealand today started its fourth weekly Asia/North Europe container service, a few days ahead of the previously announced launch of competitor Grand Alliance's “loop F” service on the same route.
   Maersk Sealand’s service calls at Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Yantian, Hong Kong, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and Yantian, with Panamax ships of about 4,000-TEU capacities.
   Grand Alliance carriers Hapag-Lloyd, Malaysia International Shipping Corp., Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Orient Overseas Container Line and P&O Nedlloyd said last month their “loop F” service would start July 10. It will call at Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Southampton, Gioia Tauro, Singapore, Xiamen and back to Shanghai.
   The “loop F” operation will be the Grand Alliance’s seventh service between Asia and North Europe.