G6 blanks four Asia-Europe sailings

The adjustments follow a weak second quarter for the Asia-Europe trade, as competition between lines put significant pressure on freight rates.

Loops six, seven, four and five will be affected in weeks 40, 41, 42 and 43 respectively, with key ports added to other sailings around the same time to reduce the impact of the blank sailings.

After Maersk Line reported its second quarter earnings, ceo Nils Andersen said that the company was looking into blanking sailings and laying up vessels in response to falling demand on the Asia-Europe trade.

Maersk experienced a 14.4% drop in average rates in the second quarter, driven mainly by falling Asia-Europe rates, a development it attributes to pressure from the formation of the Ocean Three and 2M alliances. Maersk was among those to add more ultra-large boxships to the trade in Q2 with it taking delivery of its last five 18,000 teu Triple-E newbuildings.