THE world's biggest ships will soon join CSCL, Evergreen, CMA CGM and UASC's Far East to north Europe AEX 7/FAL 2/AEC 8 services with ships between 10,000 to 14,000 TEU, increasing the strings capacity 30 per cent, reports Alphaliner.

After phasing out the 8,500 to 9,500-TEU ships on the route, replacements will be the 13,100-TEU Unn Salal, sailing from Shanghai on April 30; the 14,074-TEU CSCL Venus, to sail from Shanghai on May 7; the 14,074-TEU CSCL Jupiter, to sail from Shanghai on May 21; the 14,074-TEU CSCL Mercury, to sail from Shanghai on July 22 and later to be joined in late May by the 14,074-TEU CSCL Star, now engaged in the AEX1/CEM service.

The AEX 7 rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Port Klang, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Zeebrugge, Port Klang and back to Shanghai. The FAL 2 calls at Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Singapore, Port Klang, Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre.