- Maersk to launch two new weekly services on the transpacific in August.
- It aims to operate exclusively outside its 2M alliance with MSC and Zim slot charter partnership.
- It said the services were timed to coincide with “the incoming peak surge” and it seems likely they will be targeted at the highly lucrative premium market.
A Loadstar news by Mike Wackett says that Maersk targets transpacific premium market with extra standalone services.
Two new weekly services
Maersk will launch two new weekly services on the transpacific in August to operate “exclusively” outside its 2M alliance with MSC and Zim slot charter partnership.
The two new standalone loops – one from Asia to the US west coast and the other Asia-east coast – would “help normalise the network for our contracted customers”.
The TPX service will call at Yantian and Ningbo in China, turning at APMT Pier 400, Los Angeles, and “primarily” deploy ships of 3,500 teu.
Berthing delays at Los Angeles
Berthing delays at Los Angeles and Long Beach have eased from the highs of more than 30 ships idling, according to a report last week, to 10 vessels at anchor in the San Pedro Bay awaiting a slot.
The TP20 loop will call at Vung Tao, Vietnam, Ningbo and Shanghai in China and Norfolk and Baltimore on the US east coast, via the Panama Canal, deploying panamax vessels of 4,500 teu.
Maersk said the addition of the TPX and TP20 loops, which are subject to regulatory compliance requirements, would not result in changes to its existing network and that exact start dates “will be shared in due course”.
Reasons for introducing new weekly services
Maersk, with its stated commitment to long-term contract business, may not have benefited as much as some of its rivals from the short-term market and this could be the reasoning behind the introduction of the two niche loops.
But where the carrier will get the ships for the two extra strings in a charter market that is effectively “sold out” is a question The Loadstar put to Maersk – but at the time of going to press, a response had not been forthcoming.
An alternative to securing additional tonnage would be for Maersk to redeploy some of its 700-vessel fleet from less lucrative trades to the transpacific.
According to eeSea data, the average capacity of the vessels deployed by the 2M on the transpacific is 10,029 teu.
Reports of premium rates
Anecdotal reports of premium rates of $20,000 or more for a 40ft on the transpacific have encouraged the container lines to throw every available ship into the mix.
And with these highly elevated rates carriers are guaranteed extremely profitable voyage results, even for smaller-sized vessels, despite the steep rise in charter hire and fuel cost increases.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: The Loadstar
