UASC, China Shipping swap Far East/Mideast slots

UASC, China Shipping swap Far East/Mideast slots    China Shipping and United Arab Shipping Co. said last week they are exchanging slots on each other's Asia/Middle East services in a move that will also see UASC restart a loop on the trade that has been suspended since April.
   According to a UASC notice, China Shipping will take slots on UASC's Asia Gulf Express services, which has been renamed from AEC to AGX. Loop two of the former AEC was withdrawn in April. UASC will also add stops in Ningbo and Shanghai to the first loop on the service.
   The new rotation for AGX1 is Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Yantian, Khor Fakkan, Dubai, Dammam, Khor Fakkan, Singapore and Busan. The service operates with six 4,000-TEU UASC vessels, with China Shipping now taking slots on the service. Hanjin is also a slot buyer on the service. Calls in Xingang, Bandar Abbas, and Port Sultan Qaboos will be dropped, as will a westbound stop in Singapore.
   The rotation for the resurrected AGX2 is Hong Kong, Singapore, Laem Chabang, Singapore, Port Kelang, Dubai, Khor Fakkan, Port Sultan Qaboos, Singapore and Hong Kong. The service operates with five 2,700-TEU UASC ships (this service is not part of the slot exchange).
   Meanwhile, UASC will take slots on China Shipping's AMA service, which it will call AGX3. The rotation for AMA is Guangzhou, Tianjin, Dalian, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Port Kelang, Khor Fakkan, Dubai, Dammam, Bandar Abbas, Port Klang and Guangzhou. The service operates with five 8,500-TEU China Shipping vessels.
   The changes go into effect at the end of November.