Shanghai: Grand Alliance member lines, Hapag-Lloyd, MISC Berhad, NYK and OOCL, have decided to suspend their EU5 Service between Europe and Asia with immediate effect in response to the global economic slowdown that has led to reduced customer demand. The weekly service has been operated by eight vessels with an average capacity of 3,300teu. Ports of call have been Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Singapore, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Southampton, Singapore and back to Shanghai with a round voyage time of 56 days. The suspension is preliminary fixed until June 2009.
The Grand Alliance states that it is still offering a variety of services between Europe and the Far East covering all major port pairs with weekly sailings. Customers currently using the EU5 service have several alternative options, as the mentioned ports are amongst others covered by EU3 and EU4. [30/01/09]
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