THE CKYH Alliance (Cosco, "K" Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin Shipping) is restructuring five of its existing Asia-US east coast loops throughout May.

The AWE-6 is scheduled to resume from the middle of May replacing the AWE-5, which was suspended during the winter season. "The alliance partners believe these changes will enhance service network between Asia to US east coast while offering customers competitive sailing frequency, transit time and service coverage so as to fulfil their needs," a statement from Hanjin Shipping said.

There will be no change to the AWE-1, which rotates through Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, New York, Wilmington, Savannah, Busan and back to Ningbo. The voyage from Ningbo to New York takes 27 days. The service uses nine 4,024-TEU vessels operated by Hanjin.

From May 15, the port rotation for the AWE-2 will be Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yokohama, New York, Boston, Norfolk and back to Qingdao. The transit time from Qingdao to New York is expected to be 27 days. The service will deploy nine 4,200- to 5,100-TEU vessels operated by Cosco.

Starting from May 20, the port rotation for the AWE-3 will be: Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Busan, Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington, Hong Kong. The sailing from Shenzhen-Yantian to Savannah is expected to take 27 days. The service is operated with nine 4,250-TEU vessels provided by Yang Ming.

Starting May 29, the AWE-4 will call at Ho Chi Minh, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Singapore, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Singapore, and back to Ho Chi Minh. The service will deploy nine containerships ranging in size from 5,500 to 6,600 TEU, six of which will be provided by "K" Line, one by Yang Ming and two from Hanjin. The transit time from Shenzhen-Yantian to New York is 24 days.

The AWE-6 will from May 18 call at the ports of Shenzhen-Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston and back to Shenzhen-Yantian. Nine 4,000-TEU ships will be deployed on the service, of which three will be provided by Cosco, two by "K" Line, one by Yang Ming and three by Hanjin. The sailing from Shenzhen-Yantian to Savannah is to take 28 days.