By introducing a new route and improving two already-existing ones, the Swiss/Italian container line MSC has expanded its transpacific network, linking Asia and the United States. In July MSC anticipates launching its new Zephyr service, which is pending regulatory permission. The largest container shipping firm in the world claimed that with the help of this new weekly service, they will be able to provide direct links to the US Gulf Coast from northern China and South Korea.
The new service includes a direct call to Port Everglades, which until now has only been offered via transshipment.
The following rotation will apply, with the first sailing of MSC Bremen with an estimated time of departure (ETD) from Shanghai on 20 July 2022:
Shanghai – Ningbo – Busan – Cristobal – Houston – Port Everglades – Savannah – Lazaro Cardenas – Shanghai
In addition, MSC will revise the rotation of the existing Santana service, adding Da Chan Bay in China, as well as calls at Baltimore and Boston in the US.
“Da Chan Bay and Boston will be offered as direct calls from Asia to US East Coast, and no longer via transshipment,” noted the company.
The full rotation of Santana service will be as follows:
Haiphong – Da Chan Bay – Shanghai – Busan – Panama Canal – Charleston – Baltimore – New York – Boston – Suez Canal – Singapore – Haiphong
The updated Santana service will launch on 15 July with MSC Ellen estimated to depart Haiphong.
Moreover, the new rotation of MSC’s Sentosa service will include two calls in China, Da Chan Bay and Shekou, increasing the network coverage in China.
The full rotation will be as follows, with the first sailing by Conti Chivalry with ETD Singapore on 5 July 2022: Port Klang – Singapore – Tanjung Pelepas – Laem Chabang – Vung Tau – Da Chan Bay – Shekou – Long Beach – Oakland – Vung Tau.
