2M partners shelve extra transpacific service after only three sailings

2M partners shelve extra transpacific service after only three sailings 2M shipping alliance partners Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) have suspended their extra transpacific service, branded TP1/Maple, after just three sailings. The service that called at Yantian, Shanghai, Busan and Long Beach was launched in mid-September to meet demand from shippers following the suspension of Hanjin services, reported Seatrade Maritime News. According to Alphaliner, the 2M partners have stopped advertising the service. It said that originally the shipping lines had planned to operate the service with six 4,000 TEU vessels, but the three vessels that were deployed were much larger at between 7,800 TEU and 9,400 TEU. "It is unclear if Maersk and MSC could resume the service at a later stage, but weak demand and faltering freight rates may prompt the two partners to operate additional extra loaders only on inducement," Alphaliner stated in its weekly newsletter.