CSAV Norasia in huge Asia Med capacity hike
15 Mar 2009
Source:PR News Service

CSAV Norasia is to phase in 5,500/6,500 teu vessels on to the Asia/Black Sea (ABS) service starting later this month to replace vessels around 4,800 teu vessels - a move that will push up capacity on the service by a staggering 30%

The eight vessels being phased in are those mothballed following the closure of the Asia/North Europe (ANE) service in January/February

The phase in programme will start next week when the 5,527 teu Chiaten leaves Tianjin, and will proceed at a weekly frequency until early May when the last of the eight, the 6,541 teu Pangal leaves Tianjin

Effectively, the eight vessels which will offer an average weekly capacity of 6,250 teu, will then be able to offer a fixed-day weekly sailing frequency on the service, something that CSAV Norasia has not always managed in the past

Present weekly capacity on the ABS service is 4,794 teu

Port rotation : Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Chiwan, Port Kelang, Jeddah, Port Said, Istanbul, Constanza, Ilyichevsk, Odessa, Port Kelang, Tianjin

Of the six vessels presently deployed on this service, four are of panamax-size and 4,800 teu capacity