MSC has announced blank sailings during the ninth week of the year, which start on 1 March, to rationalise capacity supply from Asia to the US and Canada following lower demand after Chinese New Year.
Controvesy over the cancellation of services during the pandemic has seen some shippers accusing the lines of manipulating supply to manage rate increases through their collaborations within alliances, while the lines have defended the blanking of services to cut costs as demand for capacity fell.
An MSC representative told Container News, “These blank sailings have been arranged so our services match the temporary reduction in demand for cargo flow out of Asia due to the Chinese New Year.
“MSC continues to be sensitive to the systemic supply chain issues in the US market where congestion and container circulation need to be addressed in a holistic way by all industry actors and the solutions are not necessarily quick and simple,” he added.
“However, you may continue to place bookings with limited disruption as we are arranging a contingency plan with alternative services,” said MSC in its announcement.
Asia to US and Canada
Santana service – voyage UX110A, Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) Yantian 7 March 2021 which rotates as follows Yantian – Shanghai – Oakland – Los Angeles
Chinook service – voyage UK109A, ETD Yantian 2 March 2021 which rotates as follows Yantian – Shanghai – Busan – Vancouver
US and Canada to Asia
Santana service – voyage UX113R ETD Oakland 22 March 2021 which rotates as follows Oakland – Los Angeles – Yantian – Shanghai
Chinook service – voyage UK111A, ETD Yantian 18 March 2021 which rotates as follows Vancouver – Yantian – Shanghai – Busan
Source : Container News
