Major MOL service upgrade

KEVIN MAYHEW
Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) is to upgrade the company’s container service linking Japan/Asia, South Africa, and east coast of South America as well as increase the number of ships servicing the routes.
MOL currently serves these regions through joint service with P&O Nedlloyd, but plans to dissolve that partnership and launch a new joint service with Pacific International Lines (PIL) from mid-July. The new service will use a total of 11 containerships in the 2 800 TEU class.
In addition, MOL will increase the number of its vessels assigned to this service from six to eight to ensure a more stable supply of cargo space, and add calls at Shanghai and Shenzhen (it is not clear yet where this calling port will be) to meet expanding demand for service in China’s rapidly growing market.
Service will be further enhanced with a call at Durban on the westbound route.
The above service is in addition to MOL’s existing Asia-South Africa/West Africa service.
The new service rotation will be:
Kobe (Monday/Monday); Yokohama (Tuesday/Wednesday); Nagoya (Wednesday/Thursday); Pusan (Friday/Saturday); Shanghai (Sunday/Sunday); Shenzhen (Tuesday/Wednesday); Hong Kong (Wednesday/Wednesday); Singapore (Sunday/Sunday); Durban (Friday/Saturday); Santos (Sunday/Monday); Buenos Aires (Thursday/Friday); Montevideo (Friday/Friday); San Francisco do Sul (Sunday/Monday); Paranagua (Monday/Tuesday); Santos (Wednesday/Wednesday); Rio de Janeiro (Thursday/Friday); Cape Town (Friday/Saturday); Port Elizabeth (Monday/Tuesday); Singapore (Saturday/Sunday); Hong Kong (Wednesday/Wednesday); Kobe (Monday/Monday).