SENATOR increases capacity on MEX / MOL to leave Asia/Middle East/Med service
As exclusively reported by PR News Service under Copy 5498, MOL is to leave the Asia/Middle East/Mediterranean service, marketed by the line as the EMA, officially from May 20th.
The departure of MOL from this service will lead to UASC deploying two further vessels, the 2,732 teu Ibn Asakir and the 2,741 teu Salah al Deen during late May, early June, as replacements for two provided by MOL.
Additionally, there will be a switch back of one sublet vessel from Hanjn to UASC, the 3,017 teu Tabuk which will revert to its previous name, Washington Senator and will be operated by Hanjin.
Hanjin and Senator market the service as the Mediterranean Express (MEX), UASC, the AMC1 service.
The phase out of MOL from the EMA will be completed when the 4,646 teu MOL Express, temporarily deployed for one round voyage from late May, arrives back in Shanghai in mid-July.
The changes will mean increases in weekly slot allocations for UASC and Hanjin, as well as boosting slot charterer, Senator Lines weekly allocation to around 400 teu, believed to be almost double the existing amount. K Line also has slots on this service.
As earlier reported by PR News Service, the introduction of MOL Express for one round voyage does not have any connection to a capacity increase on this service, but is an interim addition as MOL terminates its involvement, and is linked with the UASC, Hanjin and Senator increasing their own weekly slot allocation.
From July, vessel deployment will be as follows :
Washington Senator – 3,017 teu (Hanjin)
Ibn Khaldoun – 2,732 teu (UASC)
Hanjin Vancouver – 2,932 teu (Hanjin)
Ibn Asakir – 2,732 teu (UASC)
Salah al Deen – 2,741 teu (UASC)
Al Fujairah – 3,017 teu (Hanjin)
Ibn Abdoun – 2,732 teu (UASC)
Hongkong Senator – 3,017 (Hanjin)
Senator Line and K Line remain slot charterers.