South Korea’s shipowners’ association said penalties imposed by regulators would damage the country’s link to the global supply chain and lead large foreign carriers to avoid South Korean ports.

The latest newbuild order from Japan’s MOL continues a flurry of vehicle carrier orders made in the last month that will result in a bigger — and greener fleet — global fleet.

Reduced trans-Pacific connectivity has become particularly acute for shippers in South Korea and Japan who have seen carriers omit calls or drop sailings as they seek to maintain or restore schedule reliability on mainline services.

Ocean Network Express reported 100 percent utilization on its major trades out of Asia, with the rising rate levels contributing to significantly improved profitability.