Members of THE Alliance have announced a shipping transport network offering consisting of 31 services covering all East-West trade lanes, tentatively set to start by April 2017.
In an emailed statement on November 8, THE Alliance said it plans to deploy a fleet of more than 240 ships on the Asia-Europe, North Atlantic, and trans-Pacific trade lanes, including the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf/Red Sea.
“The start of THE Alliance as the most integrated liner shipping consortia is scheduled for April 2017 (subject to completion of all relevant regulatory requirements),” it added. “The product of THE Alliance is a milestone which will significantly improve the service offering for all shippers on the East West trade lanes.”
THE Alliance counts as member-carriers Hapag-Lloyd, “K” Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and Yang Ming.
The product will be characterized by fast transit times, a broad port coverage, and deployment of modern and most efficient ships, the member lines said. “Our best ship for the loop principle and dedicated shuttle service design are the basis for one of the most competitive products available in the market,” said the group.
The comprehensive network of 31 services will connect more than 75 major ports throughout Asia, North Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Indian Sub-Continent and the Middle East with fast transit times and a wide range of direct port-to-port connections.
It will feature eight services in the Asia-Europe trade including three services covering the Mediterranean market. One dedicated service will cater to customers in the Middle East, connecting the key ports of China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia with Dammam, Jubail, and an Arabian Gulf hub port.
Sixteen joint services will be operated on the trans-Pacific trade, and six loops will serve the North Atlantic trade, covering a wide range of North European and Mediterranean ports as well as those in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The service network is expected to cover more than 24 ports in Asia including 10 Chinese and five Japanese ports with direct calls, as well as 20 ports in the U.S. and Canada, six North European and 13 Mediterranean ports, six ports in the Middle East and six ports in Central America/Caribbean.
Photo: Hummelhummel
