OOCL provides ships on COSCO Asia/Mideast loop

OOCL provides ships on COSCO Asia/Mideast loop    COSCO Container Lines is scaling back capacity on a Far East/Middle East service, with OOCL also becoming a vessel operator on the loop.
   The MEX has been operated with six ships averaging 6,880 TEUs, according to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data. COSCO provides five vessels, four of which are 7,500-TEU ships. OOCL, Grand Alliance partner Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Emirates Shipping Line and regional carriers TSK and RCL are all slot buyers. NYK Line has provided the other ship.
   According to a note Wednesday from OOCL, as of April 18 the service will be operated with six 5,500-TEU ships — three from COSCO and three from OOCL. The rotation will be slightly changed to include an eastbound call at Port Klang in Malaysia, a move OOCL said 'will better suit our customers' needs and expectations.'
   The new rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Shekou, Singapore, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Bandar Abbas, Singapore, Port Kelang, Hong Kong and Shanghai. ' Eric Johnson