MSC deploys its first 12,500 TEU, the Fabiola, on Asia-US west coast trade
MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company has deployed its first 12,500-TEU vessel
on its Asia-US west coast trade, with the addition of the MSC Fabiola to
its Pearl River Express' service (PRX) that is jointly operated with
CMA CGM. Thursday, 01.Mar.2012, 23:12 (GMT+3)
MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company has deployed its first 12,500-TEU vessel
on its Asia-US west coast trade, with the addition of the MSC Fabiola to
its Pearl River Express' service (PRX) that is jointly operated with
CMA CGM.
Come mid-March and the 11,660-TEU MSC Francesca is expected to join the
PRX as well. Alphaliner said the two giants were earlier participating
on Far East-Europe/Mediterranean services, and most recently on the Far
East-North Europe Lion service. These ships are being replaced by
newbuildings of 13,000 to 14,000 TEU.
The PRX was previously operated using six ships ranging in size from
8,000-9,000 TEU. The service calls at the ports of Fuzhou, Xiamen,
Shenzhen-Chiwan, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Long Beach and Oakland.
This development means that the two US west coast ports will be tasked with handling their largest containership so far.
Maersk Line is already deploying 10,000-TEU vessels on its transpacific trade.