Maersk slows Asia-ISC CHX again

   After nine months at regular speed, the ocean carrier Maersk Line has once again added another vessel to its weekly CHX service between Asia and the East Coast of India, increasing roundtrip voyage time from 35 days to 42 days. 
   Transit times eastbound from India to China on the CHX have been increased by about seven days as vessels will now slow steam one extra week between Maersk’s mega-regional hub in Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia and Qingdao, China on the return leg. 
   American Shipper reported Feb. 7 that the loop had resumed a five-week roundtrip voyage time after a previous one-month slowdown. 
   The rotation of the CHX loop remains Qingdao, Xingang, Shanghai, Nansha, Tanjung Pelepas, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Tanjung Pelepas, and Qingdao. The service is currently operated with six Maersk vessels with an average capacity of 4,228 TEUs. Subsidiary Safmarine continues to purchase slots. 
   Maersk and Safmarine currently operate or take slots on a total of four other services with direct connections between Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. None of them, however, call at either Chennai or Vishakhapatnam. – ComPair Data, Ben Meyer