Tokyo: Grand alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL and NYK have issued a statement to assure customers of unaffected services on routes between Europe (incl. Mediterranean) and the Far East, following the withdrawal of shipping line MISC Berhad (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) from the consortium with effect from January 1st 2010.
"We greatly regret that MISC as a founding member of the Grand Alliance is withdrawing, but respect its decision," commented the partner lines, adding that MISC does not operate with the Grand Alliance on the Transpacific or Transatlantic trades.
The withdrawal of MISC will not affect sailing frequencies, transit times or service structures, they said. "Nothing will change for our customers. They will continue to receive the customarily reliable service of the Grand Alliance partner lines in the future."
The fleet deployed by the Grand Alliance comprises about 140 vessels with capacities of between 2,900 and 9,00teu. MISC has so far provided seven units of these. "We will be replacing these ships in the context of our normal cascading," stated the Grand Alliance. [18/05/09]
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