Two major shipping alliances are to join forces to create one of the largest vessel networks of the Far East – Europe trade.
The deal brings together New World Alliance members APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui OSK, with Grand Alliance members Hapag Lloyd, NYK and OOCL.
In total they will operate nine services with fast transit times using more than 40 ships and covering more than 40 ports in Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean.
The new G6 alliance is scheduled to begin operation by April 2012 with seven joint services operating between Asia and Europe and two services to the Mediterranean. It includes a direct Far East-Baltic service with calls at Gdansk, Poland and Gothenburg, Sweden as well as transhipment in Singapore.
The schedule will include multiple weekly calls at Singapore, South China, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Southampton. The ports of call also include Le Havre, Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Thamesport, the Bohai Bay ports of Dalian and Xingang, Ningbo, Qingdao, Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Cai Mep, Japanese ports, Colombo, Jeddah, and Port Said.
“This is a milestone agreement that significantly improves service coverage in the Asia-Europe market,” member carriers said in a statement. “We will offer sailing frequencies and direct coverage that compete with anyone in the market.”