Grand Alliance to launch China-US east coast service

GRAND Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, NYK and OOCL as well as non-member Zim have agreed to cooperate on a service from south China to US east coast via the Panama Canal starting early April, but subject to filing with the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

The rotation of the South China East Coast Express (SCE) service would be: Kaohsiung Shenzhen (Shekou) Hong Kong, Kingston, New York, Norfolk, Savannah and Kaohsiung on a 56-day round trip.

The service will consist of eight 4,200-TEU ships with the Grand Alliance providing five and Zim, three.

The Grand Alliance, formed in 1998, claims to be the leading consortium in global container shipping. Its members are Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), MISC Berhad (Malaysia), NYK (Japan) and OOCL (Hong Kong). MISC Berhad does not operate on this trade and therefore has not participated in the agreement.
 

Source: Shednet