Container shippers Maersk Line and Hamburg Süd announced a slot purchase agreement for Hamburg Süd’s volumes on the East–West trades to be shipped on vessels in the 2M network.
Maersk Line acquired Hamburg Süd in December 2016, and the two are party to a number of such operational agreements worldwide.
Due to changes in the global liner alliances, the agreement follows commercial negotiations in anticipation of the termination of Hamburg Süd’s current slot purchase arrangements on the East–West trades.
The agreement, which covers the Asia-North Europe, Asia-Mediterranean, Trans Atlantic and Trans Pacific trades, is scheduled to begin April 1, subject to maritime filing requirements being satisfied.
Hamburg Süd will offer the following product portfolio and service frequencies:
- Asia – North Europe: five sailings per week
- Asia – Western Mediterranean: two sailings per week
- Asia – U.S. West Coast: four sailings per week
- Asia – U.S. East Coast: three sailings per week
- Transatlantic: two sailings per week
Additional details, including port rotations, transit times and terminal details, were not immediately available.
“Our customers will benefit from extended port coverage, best transit times and an increased number of loops in the East–West trades,” said Frank Smet, Member of the Executive Board of Hamburg Süd.
Søren Toft, Chief Operating Officer, Maersk Line, said, “Accommodating these additional volumes enables improved utilization in our fleet and in turn provides opportunities to enhance our customer offering on select trades in our East–West network.”