Starting from mid-May, the current PS3 service will be divided into two services. For Central China, TNWA will offer the PS3, a direct service between Ningbo, Shanghai and Los Angeles. "This enhancement will provide one of the fastest transit times in the industry: 11-day direct service from Shanghai to Los Angeles," a joint statement said.
TNWA will at the same time launch a new Japan-America Shuttle (JAS) service, to provide wider port coverage in Japan than currently offered and to ensure a more reliable service by focusing solely on the Japanese market.
The JAS will provide additional stops in Shimizu and Osaka along the Alliance's transpacific network.
Both the PS3 and the JAS service will initially deploy four 2,800-3,000 TEU vessels on a weekly service with a 28-day rotation, subject to regulatory approval.
The first sailing of the PS3 service will kick off from Ningbo on May 10 on the following port rotation of: Ningbo (Sat), Shanghai (Sun/Mon), Los Angeles (Fri/Sun), Ningbo (Sat).
The first sailing on the JAS service is scheduled to depart from Osaka on May 14. The port rotation for the JAS is Osaka (Wed), Kobe (Thurs), Nagoya (Fri), Shimizu (Sat), Tokyo (Sun/Mon), Los Angeles (Wed/Thurs), Osaka (Wed).