TS Lines joins new transpacific loop
Regional intra-Asia carrier TS Lines is reportedly joining a recently introduced transpacific service as an operator, according to maritime news service Alphaliner.
Taiwan-based TS Lines will provide one vessel on Hainan PO Shipping's new CAE service, which has a rotation of Hong Kong, Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Long Beach and Hong Kong.
According to American Shipper affiliate American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, the service is operated with five vessels with an average capacity of about 3,000 TEUs. PO Shipping originally launched the service in August with four vessels and only included calls at Ningbo, Shanghai and Long Beach. But the added vessel has apparently allowed the service to call South China. Transit times are fast eastbound (seven days from Shanghai to Long Beach) but considerably slower westbound (22 days from Long Beach to Hong Kong).
Alphaliner said the two lines plan to add a second joint transpacific service in April, focusing on South China/Taiwan/U.S. West Coast trade. That might allow them to curtail calls at Hong Kong and Yantian on the CAE service. TS Lines and PO Shipping already operate a joint service between China and Australia.
The move is significant for TS Lines as it's the carrier's first operated vessel on a transpacific loop. The carrier, the 23rd-largest line by fleet capacity according to Alphaliner, has been rumored to be eyeing long-haul trades in recent years, with most of the attention focused on Asia/Middle East. ' Eric Johnson