Mike King, Special Correspondent | Apr 19, 2012 12:05PM EDT
Hanjin Shipping in May will join other Asia-based carriers to expand its presence in the East Mediterranean.
Starting in mid-May, the South Korean carrier will swap slots with “K” Line on the Asia-Black Sea Express service offered by the vessel-sharing alliance of China Shipping, “K” Line, Pacific International Lines, Wan Hai and Yang Ming.
The service covers North China, Southwest Asia and the Black Sea with eight vessels capable of carrying 4,000 to 4,250 20-foot equivalent container units. Transit time is 26 days from Shanghai to Constanza, Romania.
Effective April 25, Hanjin also will deploy a vessel in the Turkey-Levant Service currently operated by Arkas Line and Turkon. That service links Port Said, Egypt; and Piraeus, Greece, with the Turkey and Levant regions.
Hanjin this month also launched an Adriatic service.
The port rotation on the ABX is Shanghai, Ningbo and Shekou, China; Singapore; Port Kelang, Malaysia; Piraeus; Istanbul, Turkey; Constanza; Ilichevsk, Ukraine; and back to Port Kelang and Shanghai
The rotation on the Turkey-Levant Service is Port Said; Alexandria, Egypt; Beirut, Lebanon; Mersin, Turkey; Piraeus; Evyap, Istanbul, Gemlik and Izmir, Turkey; and back to Mersin and Port Said.
Contact Mike King at mikeking@borderline.eu.com.