Grand Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) and Zim Integrated Shipping Services have agreed to cooperate on service from South China to US East Coast via the Panama Canal.
The joint operation is expected to take effect in April, subject to filing with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).
New port rotation of the South China East Coast Express (SCE) service is Kaohsiung – Shekou – Hong Kong – Kingston – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Kaohsiung on a 56 day round trip.
The new service will consist of eight vessels of 4,200 TEU. Grand Alliance will provide five vessels and Zim will provide three vessels.
The Grand Alliance, formed in 1998, is an integrated consortium in global container shipping. Its members are Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), MISC Berhad (Malaysia), NYK (Japan) and OOCL (Hong Kong). MISC Berhad does not operate on this trade and therefore has not participated in this particular agreement.