K Line, MISC and PIL’s Asia upgrade Asia – South Africa service
‘K’ Line, MISC and PIL announced today that the joint Asia South Africa Service is to be upgraded with effect from later in April 2007. The upgrading will involve the deployment of larger vessels with extended port coverage to include China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka in its revised rotation.
The newly-upgraded Asia South Africa Service will have 7 containerships of 3300 – 3800-TEU capacity, with ‘K’ Line and MISC each contributing 3 vessels and PIL one vessel.
The new port rotation will be: Shanghai – Ningbo – Kaohsiung - Shekou - Hong Kong – Singapore – Port Klang – Colombo - Durban – Cape Town – Colombo - Port Klang – Singapore - Hong Kong – Shanghai.
The newly-upgraded service, which will make the round-trip voyage in a total of 49 days, is expected to commence around the end of April with a full deployment of the up-sized vessels to be completed around June.
“By extending the current service to the North Asia region, customers are expected to benefit from the wider market coverage and fast transit times. Having a Colombo call on both eastbound and westbound legs gives it the unique distinction of being the only service of its kind which is intended to connect the high growth markets in the Indian sub-Continent as well as those of the Middle East,” says a communiquй from the three lines
The message adds that the larger capacity containerships with significantly increased number of reefer plugs will comfortably meet the growing demand for space in this continually expanding eastbound trade.
“This service upgrading further confirms the partners’ commitment to meet their customers’ needs as well as providing a reliable platform for future growth being anticipated for South African exporters and importers.”
The newly-upgraded Asia South Africa Service will have 7 containerships of 3300 – 3800-TEU capacity, with ‘K’ Line and MISC each contributing 3 vessels and PIL one vessel.
The new port rotation will be: Shanghai – Ningbo – Kaohsiung - Shekou - Hong Kong – Singapore – Port Klang – Colombo - Durban – Cape Town – Colombo - Port Klang – Singapore - Hong Kong – Shanghai.
The newly-upgraded service, which will make the round-trip voyage in a total of 49 days, is expected to commence around the end of April with a full deployment of the up-sized vessels to be completed around June.
“By extending the current service to the North Asia region, customers are expected to benefit from the wider market coverage and fast transit times. Having a Colombo call on both eastbound and westbound legs gives it the unique distinction of being the only service of its kind which is intended to connect the high growth markets in the Indian sub-Continent as well as those of the Middle East,” says a communiquй from the three lines
The message adds that the larger capacity containerships with significantly increased number of reefer plugs will comfortably meet the growing demand for space in this continually expanding eastbound trade.
“This service upgrading further confirms the partners’ commitment to meet their customers’ needs as well as providing a reliable platform for future growth being anticipated for South African exporters and importers.”