G6 Alliance confirms Transpac expansion

The alliance, comprising of Mitsui OSK Lines, APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Orient Overseas Container Line, launched six Asia-North Europe services in March 2012 after the merger of the services offered by The New World Alliance(NWA) and the Grand Alliance(GA) on those routes. One of those services, loop 3, was closed in September due to poor volumes.

The G6's Asia-North America East Coast will coordinate six loops, three via the Suez Canal and three via the Panama canal, offering an increased sailing frequency after the merger and revision of NWA and GA services with one additional entirely new service. 50 ships will service the routes, calling at almost 30 ports in North America, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, Indian Sub-continent, Mediterranean and the Middle East.

“Our cooperation in the Asia-to-Europe market has successfully provided customers with comprehensive service coverage as well as operating efficiencies,“ member carriers said in a statement.. “This new agreement will bring the same winning formula to the Asia-to-North America East Coast trade and benefit shippers trading in this key trade lane.“