MSC is revamping its transpacific services to boost reliability and direct links from China to US east coast ports, starting in May.
Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) will rework its transpacific services from May to improve reliability and establish direct links from China to US east coast ports, as reported by New York's Journal of Commerce.
MSC's Empire Service will drop Qingdao, focusing instead on Shanghai, Ningbo, and Busan. On the US side, Jacksonville and Miami will be replaced by Norfolk and Port Everglades. The new rotation begins on May 27 with the 6,178 TEU MSC Leo VI departing from Shanghai.
Qingdao will be added to the Amberjack service into the US southeast, while calls to Yantian and Xiamen will be removed. Norfolk will be replaced by Jacksonville. MSC stated that these adjustments will improve transit times and stability, starting May 20 from Qingdao.
The Emerald service from Southeast Asia will drop Kaohsiung in favor of Xiamen, providing direct access to major US east coast ports. The new rotation begins on May 18 with the 7,000 TEU Zim Topaz sailing from Singapore.
MSC indicated that the network revamp consolidates China calls and reduces exposure to congestion risks, while enhancing coastwide coverage from Southeast Asia.
