MOL Joins 2M on Asia-ECSA Trade
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Maersk Line announced that it has entered into Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA) with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) on the Asia to East Coast of South America trade.
Two loops are covered under the agreement and will be served by 22 vessels in total. Maersk and MSC are each running six 9,000 teu ships on loop one, with MOL operating ten 5,500 teu ships on the second loop.
"Asia to the East Coast of South America is a key route for the transport of electronics and automobile parts, propelling the automobile industry within Latin America," Maersk Line stated in a press release. "The route also facilitates protein exports from the East Coast of South America to Asia."
The VSA will simplify the network and improve operational responsiveness on the route. It will also enable us to deploy vessels that are better suited for East Coast South America terminal capabilities and continue to optimize utilization of vessel capacity, providing greater economies of scale.
The new VSA is expected to start with the first vessel departure from the Far East during the first week of July. It will replace all current VSAs in place on this route, which will expire at the end of June.
The rotation of Loop 1 is: Busan-Shanghai-Ningbo-Chiwan-Yantian-Hong Kong-Singapore-Santos- Parangua-Montevideo-Rio Grande-Parangua-Santos-Coega [South Africa]-Singapore-Hong Kong-Busan.
The Loop 2 rotation is: Chiwan-Yantian-Hong Kong-Singapore-Santos-Sepetiba-Itajai-Navegantes-Sao Francisco do Sul-Santos-Sepetiba-Capetown-Durban-Singapore-Chiwan.