A new intra-Asia service linking southern China, the Philippines, and eastern Malaysia will be launched by Evergreen Line in mid-April.
Aside from linking the three countries, the new CPM loop will connect to the Taiwan carrier’s global network via Hong Kong.
Two ships in the 1,700-TEU (20-foot-equivalent unit) class will be deployed to the route. The first sailing is planned from Shekou on April 15, 2013, with a weekly port rotation of Shekou, Hong Kong, Manila, Kota Kinabalu, Bintulu, and back to Shekou.
Evergreen Line, Asia’s number 2 container ship liner, said it wants to capitalize on the growing intra-Asia trade, citing IMF’s recent outlook forecasting economic growth rates for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations of 5.5 percent in 2013 and 5.7 percent in 2014.
“In addition, the Southeast Asian countries will begin negotiations to establish the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year together with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. The free trade development that is expected to ensue will further boost cargo growth within the intra-Asia markets,” the company said in a statement.
Evergreen Line also announced it is partnering with United Africa Feeder Line (UAFL) to extend its service network in the Indian Ocean. The new ISC-Mauritius-Mozambique-Africa (IMMA) service linking the Indian Sub-continent, Indian Ocean Islands, and Mozambique will be launched in late April.
The IMMA sling will use three 2,500-TEU ships for its biweekly service that starts from April 22 from Karachi. Its port rotation will be Karachi, Mundra, Colombo, Port Louis, Tamatave, Durban, Maputo, Nacala, and Karachi. Evergreen Line will provide two of the ships and UAFL will deploy the third.
Pho
