Members of THE Alliance — Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express, Yang Ming and Hyundai Merchant Marine — have announced revised operations and more void sailing schedules from July to September as demand remains weak due to the coronavirus.

Changes impact several trades, but especially Asia – North Europe trade.

"In light of the extraordinary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the members of THE Alliance will adjust the schedules for July, August and September for the Asia – North Europe trade and July for the remaining trades, in order to match market demand," the group said in a statement.

For its Asia and North Europe service, THE Alliance said its  FE4 service (Ningbo – Shanghai – Suez Canal – Le Havre – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Antwerp – Southampton –Suez Canal – Yantian – Ningbo) will remain merged with FE2 (Pusan – Qingdao – Shanghai – Hong Kong – Yantian – Singapore – Suez Canal – Southampton – Hamburg – Rotterdam – Suez Canal – Jebel Ali – Singapore – Pusan) until the end of September 2020.

FE2 will continue to run combined rotation with eastbound routing via Cape of Good Hope following the Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Yantian – Singapore – (Suez) – Rotterdam – Southampton – Le Havre – Hamburg – Rotterdam – (Cape of Good Hope) – Singapore – Pusan route.

FE3 meanwhile will extend to cover direct calling at Central China ports from July to September to include Ningbo – Shanghai – Xiamen - Kaohsiung – Hong Kong – Yantian – (Suez) – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Antwerp – London Gateway – Suez – Jebel Ali – Singapore – Yantian – Hong Kong – Kaohsiung – Ningbo.

THE Alliance voided five schedules in Asia and the Mediterranean MD2, MD3 (Week 28 and 31) and MD1 for Week 29.

For its Transpacific – West Coast service, the shipping group will also void 11 schedules.

Week 27 (PS3, PN3 and PN4), Week 28 (PS4), Week 29 (PS3, PN3 and PN4), Week 30 (PS4), and Week 31 (PS3, PN3 and PN4). 

PS5 which covers Shanghai – Pusan – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Pusan – Shanghai will continue to be suspended for weeks 27 to 31.

Transpacific – East Coast (via Panama and Suez canals), THE Alliance said its EC3 network (Kaohsiung – Xiamen – Hong Kong – Yantian – Shanghai – Panama Canal – Manzanillo – Savannah – Jacksonville – Norfolk – Manzanillo – Panama Canal – Balboa – Pusan – Kaohsiung) will tentatively remain merged with EC1 in July, although noting that this could change.

For its Asia and the Middle East network, the group said AG1 service will remain merged with AG3 in July under the current AG3 combined service rotation, while AG2 will maintain westbound direct calling at Xiamen in July.

THE Alliance also announced it will void its PS3 service (India sector) on Week 28 and the same service on Week 30. 

For Transatlantic, the shippers will also void five schedules: Week 26 (AL1, AL4), Week 28 (AL1), Week 29 (AL4), and Week 31 (AL1). 

"THE Alliance will continue to closely monitor the latest market situation during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide updates on any necessary service changes. The affected services are expected to resume normal operations once market conditions improve," it added.