Peter T. Leach, Senior Editor | Jan 31, 2012 9:08AM EST
Three carriers, CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Lines and United Arab Shipping, will replace two of their existing services between Asia and the Middle East in February with one new service called the CIMEX 1.
The new three-way joint service marks another step in the series of consolidations of carrier services that began with the Dec. 1 announcement by Mediterranean Shipping and CMA CGM that they would join forces on key trade routes around the globe.
The three carriers will deploy seven vessels with capacities ranging from 12,500 to 14,400 20-foot container units on the service. CSCL will provide three ships of 14,400 TEUs, UASC will deploys three ships of 13,000 TEUs and CMA CGM will contribute one ship with a capacity of 12,500 TEUs.
The new service will be the first to deploy vessels of the 14,400-TEU size on any route except the Asia-Europe trade lane.
The CIMEX 1 will replace two existing services: the CIMEX / AMA service that is operated by CMA CGM and CSCL with 8,500 TEUs, and the AGX 1 service, which UASC which currently operates with 3,600-TEU vessels.
The new service will start operating on Feb. 2 with the departure of the CMA CGM Don Carlos from Tianjin.
The rotation of the CIMEX1 service will be: Tianjin, Dalian, Pusan, Shanghai (Yangshan Terminal), Ningbo, Shekou, Port Klang, Khorfakkan, Jebel Ali, Port Klang, Nansha and back to Tianjin.
-- Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @petertleach.
