Hamburg Süd, Maersk Line to continue ASAS/NGX Service

Hamburg Süd, Maersk Line and NYK Line have decided to terminate their joint service cooperation in the Asia to South Africa - South America East Coast Service (ASAS/NGX) as from April 2008. Hamburg Süd and Maersk Line have agreed to continue the cooperation after NYK's withdrawal. The joint Hamburg Süd/Maersk Line service will henceforth be carried out by ten new buildings of the Monte Class with a nominal capacity of 5500 TEU which are specifically designed to operate in the Latin American trades. The service pattern will be as follows: Nagoya - Yokohama - Pusan - Shanghai - Hong Kong - Singapore - Tanjun Pelapas - Durban - Sepetiba - Santos - Buenos Aires - Rio Grande - Itajai/Sao Francisco do Sul - Paranagua - Santos - Port Elizabeth - Durban - Singapore - Hong Kong - Nagoya. Other ports in Asia and South America East Coast will be covered in transhipment by either dedicated feeder services or connecting to the Lines' existing service networks which will guarantee the most comprehensive trade coverage as well as competitive transit-times in all trade segments. The new vessels will be phased in over a period of eight months during which the Lines will complement the service with a sufficient number of additional smaller vessels to ensure providing the trade with the required weekly frequency and capacity without interruption.