China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) is expanding its trans-Pacific coverage with the launch of a new service in November to be known as the Asia America Central service (AAC). The move effectively introduces more than 150,000 teu of annualised capacity onto a trade route that is still suffering from low freight rates. The level of existing capacity is already running about 5 per cent above annual market demand this year.
CSCL's existing Asia America South (AAS) service is being changed to deploy five 5,500 teu vessels after having switched one of these ships to the Far East/Europe trade for trials this summer. With the re-introduction of that ship back with the AAS, the service will drop Shanghai and Ningbo, and operate between Yantian, Hong Kong, Keelung and Los Angeles. To serve Shanghai and Ningbo, CSCL is launching the new AAC service that will call at Shanghai, Ningbo, Hakata and Los Angeles. Pusan will be included westbound.
The first sailing on this new service is due to be made by the 2,800 teu CSCL Barcelona from Los Angeles on November 9.
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