Business, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

G6 brings Asia-Europe launch forward

[ February 8, 2012   //   Chris ]

The new G6 Alliance is to bring forward the launch of its combined Asia-Europe/Mediterranean service by a month to the first week of March. The G6 Alliance, serving the Asia-to-Europe-and-Mediterranean market was announced last December. The G6 Alliance members, formed by the carriers in the Grand Alliance and New World Alliance – APL, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Orient Overseas Container Line – will launch six services between Asia and North Europe. Routes serving Japanese ports will commence after completion of consultations with the Japan Harbor Transportation Association and labour unions.

A seventh service providing direct coverage to the Bohai Bay ports in Dalian and Xingang will follow “when it can be supported by sustainable trade conditions”, the lines added.

The G6 Alliance will continue the existing Asia-Mediterranean Express Service (EUM) and will also launch a new Asia-Black Sea Express service (ABX) in the first week of April.

In a statement, the G6 group explained: “We are eager to roll out our competitive products to benefit customers by offering a comprehensive and increased coverage of 40 ports in the Asia-Europe market with more sailing frequency. Customer response to the G6 Alliance is strong, the latest economic condition in the trade supports the timing of the launch, and we are ready to meet the market’s expectations.”

Confirmed services are as follows.

Loop1: Kobe – Nagoya – Shimizu – Tokyo – Hong Kong – Cai Mep – Singapore – Jeddah – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Southampton – Le Havre – Singapore – Hong Kong – Kobe

Loop 3: Shanghai – Ningbo – South China – Singapore – Tangier – Rotterdam – Bremerhaven – Gdansk – Gothenburg – Rotterdam – Jeddah – Singapore – South China – Hong Kong – Shanghai

Loop 4: Ningbo – Shanghai – South China – Singapore – Southampton – Hamburg – Rotterdam – Singapore – South China – Ningbo

Loop 5: Kwangyang – Pusan – Shanghai – South China – Singapore – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Thamesport – Singapore – Kwangyang

Loop 6: Kaohsiung – Xiamen – South China – Hong Kong – Singapore – Colombo – Southampton – Antwerp – Hamburg – Rotterdam – Jebel Ali – Singapore – South China – Kaohsiung

Loop 7: Qingdao – Shanghai – Hong Kong – South China – Singapore – Salalah – Le Havre – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Southampton – Tangier – Salalah – Singapore – South China – Qingdao

Loop 2 has yet to be finalised, although in a previous statement the G6 said it would operate from Southampton to Salalah, Jebel Ali, Singapore, Pusan and Dalian.

ABX service:

Ningbo – Shanghai – South China – Hong Kong – Singapore – Port Said – Ashdod – Istanbul – Constanza – Odessa – Istanbul – Ashdod – Port Said – Singapore – Ningbo

EUM service

Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – South China – Hong Kong – Singapore – Port Klang – Jeddah – Damietta – Genoa – FOS Sur Mer – Barcelona – Valencia – Damietta – Jeddah – Singapore – Hong Kong – Pusan