Maersk to reduce capacity of WestMed-USEC service
Denmark's Maersk Line has announced that it will reduce capacity on its WestMed service in the Mediterranean to North America trade.
Maersk Line will replace the five 5,000-TEU ships it provides to operate the service with 2,900-TEUers.
"This change comes as a result of the discontinuation of slot purchases by APL and Hapag Lloyd onboard the WestMed. Without the additional cargo of our previous partners, less capacity is required. The WestMed will then be right-sized to our current cargo demand," a statement from the carrier said.
Soren Castbak, senior director of Atlantic trades for Maersk, added: "We continue to look for cost savings wherever possible, and in this case there is no impact to shippers. Here is an example where we must align our network to match customers' volume requirements."
The vessel phase-in will begin in November and continue for several weeks until all five of the affected vessels are replaced with the smaller ones. CMA CGM will continue to operate the sixth vessel used on the service according to their Vessel Sharing Agreement.
The service will maintain the same rotation, calling at Algeciras, Marsaxlokk, Gioia Tauro, Livorno, Genoa, Fos, Algeciras, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Miami and back to Algeciras.
An AXS- Alphaliner weekly newsletter said Maersk Line and CMA CGM will also extend the rotation of their joint West Mediterranean-US east coast service by one week from five to six weeks.
Maersk Line will replace the five 5,000-TEU ships it provides to operate the service with 2,900-TEUers.
"This change comes as a result of the discontinuation of slot purchases by APL and Hapag Lloyd onboard the WestMed. Without the additional cargo of our previous partners, less capacity is required. The WestMed will then be right-sized to our current cargo demand," a statement from the carrier said.
Soren Castbak, senior director of Atlantic trades for Maersk, added: "We continue to look for cost savings wherever possible, and in this case there is no impact to shippers. Here is an example where we must align our network to match customers' volume requirements."
The vessel phase-in will begin in November and continue for several weeks until all five of the affected vessels are replaced with the smaller ones. CMA CGM will continue to operate the sixth vessel used on the service according to their Vessel Sharing Agreement.
The service will maintain the same rotation, calling at Algeciras, Marsaxlokk, Gioia Tauro, Livorno, Genoa, Fos, Algeciras, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Miami and back to Algeciras.
An AXS- Alphaliner weekly newsletter said Maersk Line and CMA CGM will also extend the rotation of their joint West Mediterranean-US east coast service by one week from five to six weeks.