Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd (“K” Line) announced that the Far East-West Africa service under its joint vessel-sharing agreement with three other liners will be upgraded to a weekly service in August.
The four-liner consortium will also add a Singapore call on both westbound and eastbound legs to provide a wider connection for Southeast Asian countries.
A total of 11 vessels with capacities of 2,500 20-foot equivalent units will be deployed on the West Africa Express Service (WAX). “K” Line will deploy two vessels; China Shipping, four; Hapag-Lloyd, two; and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), which is joining the service, three.
The move to weekly service is designed to expand services to Africa, which many carriers see as an emerging market.
The new WAX service starts on August 23, with a 77-day round-trip voyage. Port rotation will be: Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Shekou, Singapore, Port Kelang, Durban (South Africa), Tema (Ghana), Lome (Togo), Cotonou (Benin), Tincan Island (Nigeria), Durban, Port Kelang, Singapore, Shanghai.
