Cargo growth on intra-Asia routes is attracting deep-sea carriers due to the availability of cheap charter vessels and economies of scale between China and SE Asia, but regional players also know how to form defensive alliances, reports Drewry Maritime Research in its latest 'Container Insight Weekly'. Financially troubled deep-sea ocean carriers are increasingly seeking salvation in the intra-Asia market due to higher than usual cargo growth and the availability of cheap vessel charter rates. Seldom does a month pass without the announcement of at least one new regional service, some of which now deploy vessels over 4,000 teu. Maersk-owned MCC Transport/NYK’s weekly Japan-China-Thailand schedule calling at Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Hong Kong, Shekou, Laem Chabang, Xiamen and Tokyo.