MSC in huge Asia Europe capacity increase
08 Mar 2009
Source:PR News Service

Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) is to redeploy 11,000/14,000 teu newbuildings presently operating on the Asia/Mediterranean trade mainly to serve

the South America market through Valencia transhipment, on the Asia/North Europe trade .  MSC will switch at least six 11,000/14,000 teu from the

Jade Service through March and April to the Silk Express service replacing vessels of around 9,200 teu capacity which will, in turn switch to the Jade Service.

The capacity injection programme is by far the largest to take place during the present market downturn, which has seen most lines withdraw tonnage,

with none even considering pushing up capacity.

MSC's only capacity withdrawal programme to date on the Asia/Europe and Asia/Med trades has covered the Asia/Black Sea trade and the suspension

of the Tiger Service

The MSC Silk Express redeployment programme with phase in dates is as follows :

Week 10 : MSC Beatrice - 14,000 teu

Week 11 : MSC Francesca - 11,600 teu

Week 12 : MSC Luciana - 11,660 teu

Week 13 : MSC Sola - 11,660 teu

Week 14 : MSC Danit - 14,000 teu

Week 17 : MSC Daniella - 11,660 teu

In all cases the phase in vessels replace those of 9,200 teu capacity, By the end of April, MSC's Silk Express service will provide an average weekly

capacity will be 11,200 teu compared with the end of February weekly capacity which was 9,200 teu Throughout the present market downturn,

MSC has always retained the image of bucking the trend, and now with an average weekly capacity increase on the Asia/North Europe trade of

some 21%, albeit at the expense of a similar downturn on the Asia/Med trade, the latest move takes the initiative a huge step forward .

As reported today by PR News Service, MSC is seeking a US$300/teu Asia/Europe westbound rate increase effective April 1st .

Port rotation for the Silk Express : Tianjin, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Salalah, Felixstowe, Rotterdam,

Antwerp,  Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tianjin

Port rotation for the Jade Express : Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Yantian, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Gioia Tauro, Valencia,

Dubai, Singapore, Pusan, Qingdao, Shangh