New World Alliance CMA CGM to end Asia USEC service
23 Mar 2009
Source:PR News Service

The New World Alliance lines, APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and MOL, together with CMA CGM, are to end their joint Asia/USEC service known by the NWA lines as the East Coast Savannah (ESX) service, and by CMA CGM as the Savannah Express (SAX)

The service withdrawal will take another 4,700 teu of weekly capacity out of the Asia/USEC trade route

The last westbound sailing back from the USEC to Asia is expected to arrive late May in Ningbo

The ESX/SAX service was launched back in June 2007 aimed primarily at catering for the China export market volume into Savannah and New York

Eight vessels are presetly deployed with the NWA operating five, and CMA CGM the other three

Jacksonville was added last year as the first port inbound on the USEC/US Gulf, and MOL has its own terminal in the US Gulf port

Port coverage of the ESX/SAX service is : Ningbo, Shanghai, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Balboa, Manzanillo (Pan), Jacksonville, Savannah, New York, Balboa, Ningbo

The ESX/SAX withdrawal is in addition to the decision by CMA CGM to end its PEX1 service on the Asia/USEC trade

As already reported, CMA CGM will merge its own PEX1 service covering the through a joint service with China Shipping, with the Maersk TP3 service to launch a new service known as the Hudson Loop in April/May

The new Hudson Loop will cover : Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Pusan, Balboa, Savannah, New York, Miami, Balboa, Ningbo

Separately, the future of the New World Alliance New York Express (NYX) service is also under the spotlight

The NYX service was merged in December/January with the Grand Alliance South China Express (SCE) service, but as reported by PR News Service Copy 5969, Zim will join the Grand Alliance on the SCE service from April

The Zim deal will begin with slots, but is expected to move to a vessel sharing agreement with Zim providing three of the eight vessels for this service, and the Grand Alliance the other five