OOCL to start UK Express

OOCL to start UK Express    OOCL will next month replace its Scan Baltic Express 3 service connecting the United Kingdom to continental Europe with a U.K.-only loop that will relay to and from the Hong Kong-based carrier’s Asia, Australia/New Zealand and North America services.
   The SBX3 calls Grangemouth, Hull, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Amsterdam, while the new UK Express will deploy one 260-TEU ship between Grangemouth, Hull and Southampton, effective Nov. 25.
   In early September OOCL, along with its fellow Grand Alliance members, transferred its transatlantic services from Thamesport to Southampton.
   Following the change of services, cargo from Hull and Grangemouth will be subject to the same documentary cutoffs as cargo loading in Southampton, where Dutch Customs require the filing of manifest information at least 24 hours prior to the feeder vessels arrival in Rotterdam.
   OOCL’s remaining Scan Baltic loops both use three vessels of about 600 TEUs and have the following rotations:
   * SBX1: Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, St. Petersburg, Gdansk, Hamburg, Gdansk, St. Petersburg and back to Hamburg.
   * SBX2: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Helsinki, Kotka, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Klaipeda, Stockholm, Rauma, G'vle and back to Amsterdam.