CMA-CGM/Hamburg-Sud/UASC are to launch a new pendulum service initially connecting Asia/USEC/North Europe using the Panama Canal transit.

The new service is expected to be launched at the beginning of May and, at start-up, deploy 15 vessels in the Panamax-capacity frame. The operational split of deployment will see CMA-CGM as the largest capacity provider with nine vessels, Hamburg-Sud with five and UASC with one.

Although vessel capacity on launch date will be approximately 3,300 teu, this is certain to increase with the Panama Canal widening programme, which is expected to be completed in 2016.

The port rotation of the new pendulum service will be Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Pusan, Panama Canal transit, Cartagena, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, New York, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, Southampton, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Cartagena, Panama Canal transit and Qingdao.

Once the Panama Canal programme is completed next year, the service is likely to be split into two separate services, one covering the Asia/USEC trade, the other covering USEC/North Europe Atlantic trade.

In addition, Hamburg-Sud and UASC will have new slot agreements on the Europe/East Coast South America trade. To cover North Europe, UASC will purchase slots on the Hamburg-Sud Plate Service, which will provide the following port rotation: Rotterdam, London Gateway, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Santos, Paranagua, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande do Sul, Itapoa, Paranagua, Santos, Tangier and Rotterdam.

To cover the Mediterranean/ECSA trade, UASC will purchase slots on the Hamburg-Sud Sirius service, which is a jointly-operated service with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC). The service will be marketed by UASC as the SAM3 service. Port rotation: Valencia, Gioia Tauro, Livorno, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Suape, Rio De Janeiro, Santos, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande do Sul, Navegantes, Itapoa, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Suape, Tangier, Valencia. First southbound sailing from Valencia by the 5,550 teu MSC Cadiz on April 11.

In addition to the UASC coverage of the North Europe and Mediterranean/East coast South America trade, UASC will also provide coverage of the Asia/East coast South America trade through the “partnership” with Hamburg-Sud and this will start at the beginning of July.

The all important onshore agency business in South America for UASC will be the responsibility of the Ultramar Group, and this responsibility will specifically cover Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Apart from these latest developments, CMACGM and Hamburg-Sud, together with other lines to be named shortly, will also revamp their Asia/East coast South America and West coast South America service network from July.

- Paul Richardson