by Lloyd's List
6 December 2024 (Lloyd's List) - TAIWANESE carrier Wan Hai Lines has teamed up with Premier Alliance member Ocean Network Express to launch a direct service, the PS6, connecting East China to the US west coast beginning in February 2025.
The service, introduced through a slot-sharing agreement, will enhance the two partners' transpacific offerings, Wan Hai said in a statement.
The move comes as carriers have deployed larger newbuilding ships and add sailings to serve increased demand on this trade, partly driven by the strong US economy and the fallout from Red Sea rerouting.
Asia-North America routes have seen steady growth, with a total capacity of 5.4m teu deployed as of last month, up 4.2% year-on-year, according to Alphaliner. The trade accounted for 17% of global container fleet capacity, second only to Asia-Europe.
The PS6 will call at Shanghai, Ningbo, Long Beach, Oakland, and return to Shanghai and Ningbo.
Alongside this launch, Wan Hai will adjust its existing AP1 service to a new rotation of Haiphong - Cai Mep - Shekou -Xiamen - Taipei - Los Angeles - Oakland - Shekou - Haiphong, reducing transit times from Vietnam, South China, and Taiwan to the US west coast.
With the addition of the PS6 and enhanced AP1 services, Wan Hai aims to strengthen its transpacific network and provide improved transit options to meet growing customer demand, said the company.
Wan Hai has been a standout performer in the transpacific trade. Alphaliner's data shows its market share reached 3.1% last month, with a remarkable 39.3% year-on-year growth in the trade. The Taipei-listed carrier has deployed newer, larger vessels and expanded offerings.
Since 2021, Wan Hai has signed newbuilding contracts with Samsung Heavy Industries for thirteen 13,100 teu containerships. The 10th vessel in this series, Wan Hai A17 (IMO: 9968528), was delivered in August this year and deployed on its Asia-North America east coast route, "AA7."
The fleet expansion has continued. In October 2024, the company placed an order for eight 16,000 teu methanol dual-fuel vessels at two South Korean yards. This followed an earlier deal in August for up to 20 methanol-powered 8,000 teu ships, underscoring Wan Hai's entry into the field of alternative-fuel tonnage.
The launch of the PS6 service reflects Wan Hai's strategy, traditionally focused on intra-Asia markets, to expand its footprint in the competitive transpacific trade lane.
ONE currently holds an 11% transpacific market share, highlighting the strategic importance of this collaboration.
