Our bi-weekly carrier update brings you the latest news about the new and updated sea freight services our top carriers offer on main trade routes. It also covers relevant activities the carriers announced in the past two weeks.
With the developments in the Red Sea, ocean carriers mainly focused on their vessel routing strategies. Only a few feeder services have been announced in the past weeks, and no major changes have been made to larger services.
New & updated services on main trade lanes
Intra-Asia
ONE is introducing a new intra-Asia service starting on 22 January, branded JTC.
This weekly service will connect Tokyo - Yokohama - Taipei - Taichung - Ho Chi Minh and have a four-day transit time.
Intra-Middle East
Hapag-Lloyd will introduce a new shuttle service for Red Sea cargo connections as a temporary solution to replace cancelled Red Sea sailings.
This shuttle service will call at Tanger - Damietta - Jeddah - Tanger starting 19 January. According to Linerlytica, the vessel for this service will be the 4,252 TEU Seaspan Hamburg.
Feeder connections will also be offered for Aqaba and Port Sudan from Jeddah Port. The frequency of this service is 10-12 days.
Mediterranean/Black Sea <-> Middle East
ONE will launch a new Indian Ocean Mediterranean service (IOM), connecting India, Pakistan and the Middle East.
Starting on 28 January, the service will begin from Nhava Sheva and will call: Mundra - Karachi - Valencia - Barcelona - Genoa - Piraeus - Damietta - Algeciras- Karachi - Mundra - Nhava Sheva.
In the meantime, the TULYB and GTL services operated by CMA CGM will be reshuffled as of weeks 2 and 3. Following are the changes as announced by the carrier:
- TULYB: The revised port rotation will start on 17 January is: Aliaga - Gemlik - Ambarli - Alexandria Old Port - Misurata - Aliaga.
- GTL: The revised port rotation will start on 8 January is: Thessaloniki - Piraeus - Limassol - Beirut - Iskenderun - Malta - Tripoli - Misurata - Thessaloniki.
Mediterranean/Black Sea <-> North America
French carrier CMA CGM will launch a new North America-Morocco Express (NAMEX) service starting 9 January.
According to the carrier, this seasonal service is dedicated to exporting fruits and vegetables from Morocco to North America.
The NAMEX connects Tanger Med - Halifax - New York - Philadelphia - Norfolk - Charleston - Savannah - Tanger Med.
North America <-> Asia
Also starting on 9 January, the CMA CGM revised CJX service will call at Nansha - Yantian - Cai Mep - Singapore - Port Klang Westport - Colombo - Algeciras - Halifax - New York - Philadelphia - Norfolk - Savannah - Charleston - Port Klang Westport - Singapore - Laem Chabang - Cai Mep - Yantian - Los Angeles - Oakland - Nansha from 9 January 2024.
Linerlytica reports that the service deploys 20 to 22 ships of 10,000 to 16,000 TEU. Keep in mind that the current diversions away from the Red Sea will lead to longer transit times.
North America <-> South America
Carriers CMA CGM and Maersk are launching the Ceiba Express (Ceiba/U7H), connecting North America and Central America.
This service, which starts on 14 January, will have the following rotation: Port Everglades - Kingston - La Guaira - Puerto Cabello - Cartagena (Colombia) - Puerto Cortes - Santo Tomas de Castilla - Port Everglades.
Three vessels will be deployed with an average vessel capacity of 1995 TEU.
More in carrier news
According to a press release by Hapag-Lloyd, THE Alliance adjusted several of its services for the new year. The changes impact services on multiple routes, including Asia-North Europe, Asia-MED, the Transpacific and the Transatlantic.
On 22 December, Maersk announced that it would temporarily suspend acceptance of new bookings to/from several Red Sea ports due to the current situation. The ports include Port Sudan, Port of Ain Sokhna, Port of Aqaba, Jeddah Port and King Abdullah Port.
However, the carrier highlighted that "bookings from/to Europe, North America, Latin America, and West Africa will continue to be served through the Suez Canal to/from the above-listed ports. Bookings between the ports will also be facilitated as normal."
Many vessels operated by leading ocean carriers diverted to avoid security risks in the Gulf of Aden. Kuehne+Nagel has been regularly publishing a list of diverted vessels on Sea News.
Away from the Red Sea, news outlets discussed the new majority shareholder of liner HMM.
A report by Shipping Watch said that Harim Group, a leading South Korean company in the poultry industry, acquired a 57.9% stake in the shipping company. Harim Group invested nearly USD 5 billion for this acquisition.
Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd announced it intends to boost its investment in container terminals. The company's CEO, Rolf Habben Jansen, told German media last month that it plans to expand its port portfolio with up to 15 new terminals by 2028.
