Senator Lines continues to boost Asia/Med slots
Backed up by a trade lane that is expected to see volume growth this year run to over 20%, Senator Lines is doubling its slot allocation on Yangming’s Asia/Mediterranean Express (AME) service only weeks after it was confirmed a similar move was going ahead on the Hanjin/UASC service, known as the EMA (marketed as MEX by Senator) on the same trade.
Although exact figures are not being disclosed on the new AME deal, the allocation is believed to run to several hundreds each week.
Senator Lines markets the service as its New Mediterranean Express Service (NMX), and the AME/NMX is one of the few Asia/Mediterranean services that offer direct calls at Livorno, as most other services call Genoa and Gioia Tauro to cover the Italian market.
As of this month, berthing windows in the Mediterranean have been changed to provide a fast transit time of just 22 days from Livorno to Shanghai, cutting two days off the previous schedule, while westbound, Ningbo to Livorno takes 23 days. Senator’s new slot allocation starts westbound from Shanghai on June 6th.
Port coverage of the AME/NMX is : Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Said, Genoa, Livorno, Fos, Port Said, Jeddah, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai.
Under Copy 5499, April 23rd, PR News Service also reported that Senator Lines was doubling its slot allocation on the joint Asia/Middle East/Mediterranean service known as the EMA run by Hanjin and United Arab Shipping Co (UASC).
Following the departure of MOL as a vessel provider on this service, Senator Lines doubled its Asia/Med slots on this, marketed as the Mediterranean Express (MEX) service at the end of May.
The EMA/MEX service operates with vessels around 2,800 teu capacity and covers: Shanghai, Yantian, Singapore, Genoa, Fos, Valencia, Gioia Tauro, Jeddah, Khorfakkan, Singapore, Shanghai.