Demand for transpacific cargo space prompts carriers to raise USWC capacity
Source
American Shipper
Post Date
05/22/2020
Unexpectedly strong demand for cargo space on the route from Asia to the US West Coast has prompted carriers to rethink capacity deployment plans. These recent reconsiderations follow in the wake of rationalization moves that had resulted in a record number of void transpacific sailings in May.
Following from Matson¡¯s decision to deploy two extra loaders on the China to Long Beach route in May (see issue 19), APL decided to add capacity to Los Angeles on its EXX service. The carrier will replace one of its 3,500 teu ships with the 5,078 teu CMA CGM GEORGIA, which is scheduled to depart from Ningbo on 26 May.
OOCL meanwhile will divert its 13,208 teu OOCL SINGAPORE to call perform an ad hoc call at Long Beach, while en-route from Asia to the US East Coast via the Panama Canal.
The evssel will be loading at Hong Kong on 21 May, calling at Yantian, Xiamen and Shanghai on the regular Ocean Alliance ¡®AWE5¡¯ servic