COSCO is adding a second Far East-East Coast South America service by purchasing slots from "K" Line on the Far East-ECSA SSA 1/AESAL 1/NHX 1 services run with PIL and NYK and Hyundai.
In so doing it is joining its ESA partner Evergreen, reports Alphaliner. The pair will brand the service ESA 2 and add direct calls at Rio de Janeiro and Navegantes, which are not covered by ESA service that is also operated with Zim.
The Busan call also will connect South Korea to the ECSA without transshipment, said the report.
The port rotation for the ESA 2 is: Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Shekou, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Navegantes, Paranagua, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Hong Kong and back to Busan.
The service turns in 12 weeks and deploys 12 ships of 4,200-5,000 TEU. The first Evergreen sailing departed from Shanghai on May 27 with the BerlinBridge while the first Cosco sailing departed from Busan on June 1 with the Hyundai Privilege.
"K" Line will join the ESA loop in a swap arrangement with Cosco and Evergreen. Asian Shipper News |