[180716.EN.SEA] G6 Partners Boost Asia-Mediterranean Trade Weekly Capacity By 21pc

THE G6 partners have upgraded and increased weekly capacity on their Asia-Med EUM loop by 21 per cent, or about 2,200 TEU, by early September with the introduction of 13,000 TEU-class ships TEU-class ships on the service.

The G6 Alliance comprising APL, Hapag-Lloyd, HMM, MOL, NYK and OOCL is in the process of replacing seven ships in the size range from 8,750 to 10,700 TEU by units of 13,100 to 13,200 TEU, running alongside three 10,700 TEU vessels.

Some of the ships leaving the service are MOL's 10,010 TEU vessels earmarked for the new Asia-US East Coast NYX service via Panama, reported Alphaliner Weekly.

The larger replacement tonnage for the EUM has become available, as the members of the G6 Alliance decided last month to suspend their Asia-North Europe Loop 6 until further notice.

HMM will contribute six of its ten 13,000 TEU ships to the EUM some of which has recently been idled. OOCL for its part, will shift the 13,208 TEU OOCL Brussels to the loop in early September.

Currently trading on the Asia - North Europe Loop 4 the vessel will be replaced by the 14,026 TEU newbuilding NYK Eagle, currently under fitting out at Japan Marine United Shipyard in Kure. APL will continue to provide three 10,700 TEU ships for the EUM in the foreseeable future, until more 13,000 TEU ships are displaced from other services.

The EUM service turns in ten weeks and calls at Port Said East, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Port Said East, Jeddah, Singapore, Hong Kong, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jeddah, Port Said East. All these ports already see calls from VLCS of the 13,000 TEU-class, and some also handle ULCS of 14,000 TEU and larger on a regular basis.

Surce : HKSG.