APM Terminals' is poised to start serving Evergreen Line at its brand new US east coast facility in Virginia in what would be a major breakthrough for the Danish-owned ports operator.
Taiwanese line Evergreen confirmed at the weekend that discussions between the two sides are at an advanced stage, with a preliminary understanding reached.
However, negotiations are still continuing and nothing has been finalised yet, a spokeswoman in Taipei told Lloyd’s List.
Attracting a major global carrier such as Evergreen to the state-of-the-art 291-acre facility that opened last September would be a big step forward for the AP Moller-Maersk ports company that often struggles to distance itself from sister company Maersk Line and be regarded as a common-user terminal operator.
However, the Danish and Taiwanese groups have moved closer recently with their two container lines signing a slot charter agreement covering the Asia -Europe trades that starts this month.
Evergreen’s approach to APM Terminals coincides with the imminent expiry of its current terminal contract in Norfolk, Virginia.
The flagship terminal can handle around 1m teu a year and has the potential to double that throughput.
But on the Pacific, a slot charter arrangement between Evergreen and Maersk is about to expire, prompting the Taiwan line to open talks with Japan’s MOL and other carriers about co-operation agreements.
“I can confirm that MOL is working with Evergreen on a slot agreement. The details are still being worked out,” said Ed Huebbe, corporate communications manager at MOL (North America).
Evergreen had been taking space on Maersk’s TP8 transpacific loop which will disappear under a new vessel sharing arrangement just announced between the Danish line, Mediterranean Shipping Co and CMA CGM.
As the Virginia terminal prepares to sign up Evergreen, so APM Terminals’ massive 484-acre Pier 400 facility in Los Angeles, that can handle some 2.3m teu annually, is also looking for third party customers.
“We are actively marketing our excess capacity,” said John Ochs, APM Terminals Pacific managing director.
Maersk Line has withdrawn some 30% of fleet capacity from the Pacific over the past year in an effort to bring tonnage supply and demand into closer balance, and reduce costs.
However, the new vessel sharing agreement is not expected to have a negative impact on Pier 400, with fewer strings but larger 8,000 teu vessels to be deployed, leaving cargo throughput about the same.
CMA CGM will also bring one of its ships into Pier 400 under the new partnership.
Taiwanese line Evergreen confirmed at the weekend that discussions between the two sides are at an advanced stage, with a preliminary understanding reached.
However, negotiations are still continuing and nothing has been finalised yet, a spokeswoman in Taipei told Lloyd’s List.
Attracting a major global carrier such as Evergreen to the state-of-the-art 291-acre facility that opened last September would be a big step forward for the AP Moller-Maersk ports company that often struggles to distance itself from sister company Maersk Line and be regarded as a common-user terminal operator.
However, the Danish and Taiwanese groups have moved closer recently with their two container lines signing a slot charter agreement covering the Asia -Europe trades that starts this month.
Evergreen’s approach to APM Terminals coincides with the imminent expiry of its current terminal contract in Norfolk, Virginia.
The flagship terminal can handle around 1m teu a year and has the potential to double that throughput.
But on the Pacific, a slot charter arrangement between Evergreen and Maersk is about to expire, prompting the Taiwan line to open talks with Japan’s MOL and other carriers about co-operation agreements.
“I can confirm that MOL is working with Evergreen on a slot agreement. The details are still being worked out,” said Ed Huebbe, corporate communications manager at MOL (North America).
Evergreen had been taking space on Maersk’s TP8 transpacific loop which will disappear under a new vessel sharing arrangement just announced between the Danish line, Mediterranean Shipping Co and CMA CGM.
As the Virginia terminal prepares to sign up Evergreen, so APM Terminals’ massive 484-acre Pier 400 facility in Los Angeles, that can handle some 2.3m teu annually, is also looking for third party customers.
“We are actively marketing our excess capacity,” said John Ochs, APM Terminals Pacific managing director.
Maersk Line has withdrawn some 30% of fleet capacity from the Pacific over the past year in an effort to bring tonnage supply and demand into closer balance, and reduce costs.
However, the new vessel sharing agreement is not expected to have a negative impact on Pier 400, with fewer strings but larger 8,000 teu vessels to be deployed, leaving cargo throughput about the same.
CMA CGM will also bring one of its ships into Pier 400 under the new partnership.