The Samra Midas (SM) group has built a small stake in HMM, after its wholly owned subsidiary SM Line added 613,438 shares in HMM for $14m on 29 December 2021, bringing its holdings to 2.41m shares or 0.49%. Another SM Group company, bulk carrier operator Korea Shipping holds 2.15m HMM shares, or 0.44%, bring the SM Group's total shareholdings in HMM to 0.93%. The move comes after SM Line ditched plans to raise up to KRW 846 Bn ($722m) from an initial public offering (IPO) on 3 November 2021. SM
The new China-USWC service branded as SEAX by COSCO and Pacific China South Express (PCSX) by OOCL will be the largest independent transpacific service operated outside of the 3 Alliances' network. The service calls at Shanghai, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Yantian, Long Beach, Shanghai using 6 ships of 10,000 to 14,600 teu. The first sailing was made on 20 November. At Long Beach, the service will call at LBCT where it will not face the long queues that other carriers are facing at San Pedro Bay ports. CO
X-Press Feeders have launched a new feeder service connnecting Singapore and Jakarta (SJX1). The service was launched on 13 December 2021 at Singapore with the X-PRESS NILWALA. The ship was replaced by the 1,794 teu HAIAN MIND on 21 December before the 1,730 teu SMILEY LADY takes over on 12 Januaey 2022. The SJX1 service calls at Koja terminal in Jakarta with a Sat/Sun berthing window
Asean Seas Line (ASL) has launched a new South China-Danang Express (BDX) service that connects Nansha, Hong Kong, Shekou, Danang, Nansha on a weekly basis, with the first sailing made by the 357 teu HUA KAI on 28 December 2021 from Nansha.
MSC will upgrade its Russia Far East network from January 2022 by splitting its current Golden Horn service into 2 separate services, as the severe congestion at the Russia Far East ports of Vladivostok and Vostochny has affected its current schedules. The Golden Horn service was first introduced in August 2020, and currently calls at Busan, Qingdao, Dalian, Xingang, Incheon, Shanghai, Ningbo, Busan, Vladivostok, Vostochny, Busan using up to 5 ships of 1,100 teu to 2,800 teu. The revised Gold
Swire Projects, a division of Swire Shipping, has launched a new Asia-US West Coast service that connects Ho Chi Minh City with Seattle. The service was inaugurated with the 2,381 teu CHANGSHA at Ho Chi Minh City on 25 December. Swire have been operating ad hoc FE-USWC sailings since July 2021 using the 2,750 teu HONIARA CHIEF that also joined the HCMC-Seattle run on 19 March 2022, with a third ship, the 2,381 teu MORESBY CHIEF added on 16 April 2022. The service is operated in partnership UWL
X-Press Feeders have launched a new China Jebel Ali X-Press (CJX) service that will connect Shanghai, Shekou, Port Klang, Jebel Ali, Shanghai. The service will turn in 5 weeks, but will initially deploy 3 ships with 2 blank sailings in each cycle. The first sailing was made on 26 December 2021 from Shanghai by the 2,741 teu X-PRESS KARAKORAM and will be followed by the 2,741 teu X-PRESS KAILASH on 2 January 2022 and the 2,742 teu AS COLUMBIA on 16 January. China Jebel Ali X-Press (CJX) port ro
X-Press Feeders have launched a new Nigeria Guinea Gulf X-Press (NGX) service that will connect Lagos in Nigeria with with the West African hub port of Lome in Togo. The service kicked off on 23 December with the 675 teu GRANADA at Lagos. It will be replaced by the 618 teu LIMASSOL on 3 January 2022. It marks the first regular service offered by X-Press Feeders in West Africa. Nigeria Guinea Gulf X-Press (NGX) port rotation
Wan Hai and Interasia Lines (IAL) have launched a new South China-Vietnam-Malaysia (CVM) service. The new service kicked off on 23 December 2021 at Haiphong with the 1,134 teu ASIATIC BAY. The service will call Haiphong, Zhanjiang, Nansha, Port Klang, Haiphong on a 14 day rotation. It will only deploy a single ship initially and call on a fortnightly frequency, with a second ship expected to be added at a later date. Port rotation of the new CVM service operated by Wan Hai and IAL
China United Lines (CUL) has launched a new China-Vietnam link branded as the China-Vietnam Express III (CV5) using the chartered 1,113 teu OCEAN GRACE. The service connects Nansha, Shekou and Ho Chi Minh City, with the first sailing from Nansha on 20 December 2021. The service turns in around 10 days.