by Priya Radünzel, SeaNewsEditor

Container shipping companies adjust their services in response to market dynamics and operational hurdles. Stay informed of upcoming changes with Kuehne+Nagel's carrier service update, published bi-weekly on Sea News and seaexplorer.

New & revised services

Asia ↔ North Europe

In October, THE Alliance will revise the port rotation of the FE4 service by adding the temporarily dropped port stop at Colombo.

• Carrier service name: FE4
• Port Rotation: Tianjin Xingang - Qingdao - Busan - Shanghai - Yantian - Colombo - Algeciras - Rotterdam - Hamburg - Antwerp - London Gateway - Tangier - Singapore - Tianjin Xingang
• First sailing: HMM Copenhagen ETD Tianjin Xingang 8 October

Asia↔Mediterranean/Black Sea

As of mid-September, the 2M alliance will revise the port rotation of the JADE/AE11 service by replacing the port call at Tangier with Port Said.

• Carrier service name: AE11 (Maersk), Jade(MSC)
• Port rotation: Qingdao - Busan - Ningbo - Shanghai - Xiamen - Nansha - Yantian - Singapore - Valencia - Barcelona - Gioia Tauro - Port Said - Singapore - Yantian
• First sailing: MSC Irina ETD Qingdao 14 September

North Europe↔South America

In August, CMA CGM and Marfret Compagnie Maritime revised their service connecting North Europe with South America by dropping the second port call at Port of Spain.

• Carrier service name: NEFGUI
• Port rotation: Vila do Conde - Fortaleza - Vigo - Rotterdam - London Gateway - Le Havre - Philipsburg - Port of Spain - Degrad des Cannes - Vila do Conde
• First sailing: CMA CGM Sinnamary ATD Vila de Conde on 13 August

Intra-Asia

At the end of August, PIL will launch a new service connecting China and Bangladesh.

• Carrier service name: CCE
• Port rotation: Ningbo - Shanghai - Shekou - Chittagong - Ningbo
• First sailing: Kota Anggun, ETD Ningbo 31 August

Intra-Europe

In mid-August, CMA CGM launched a service between the UK, Benelux and Sweden.

• Carrier service name: HLX
• Port rotation: Antwerp - Tilbury - Helsingborg - Antwerp
• First sailing: Sagna, ATD Antwerp 14 August

Strikes could affect vessel schedules

Protected Industrial Action by pilot boat operators and vessel traffic service operators in Fremantle halted vessel movements to and from berths from 18 August to 20 August. Vessel cargo operations and yard operations were unaffected. Another 48-hour strike began yesterday, 25 August, at 5:30 local time.

In its latest market update, Maersk advised that it is reviewing its vessel schedules during the strike period. Earlier this month, the carrier announced schedule changes, including port omissions on its Southern Star service, to maintain reliability for Fremantle imports. The carrier could announce further contingency plans or alternate routing options in light of the strikes.

In addition, Indian port workers announced an indefinite strike beginning on 28 August. The strike may impact major ports like Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Tuticorin, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam. While container operations might not be heavily affected due to private terminal contracts, vessel movements could face delays impacting schedules.

For more point-to-point service options, refer to seaexplorer.