New GEX consortium takes shape

Alan Peat NEWS HAS just been leaked on the Internet about the new formation of the Good Hope Express (GEX) consortium on the Far East-SA-South America trade Ð with the story in ci-online noting that Norsul is pulling out, and Kien Hung Line is joining NYK and CSAV in the new service. Although FTW had this same advance information, nothing is yet finalised and the lines are awaiting the red-tape approval by the Japanese harbour authorities for the new consortium. However, the upgraded GEX (possibly to carry a new name) is due to be launched in October. The lines are proposing to have 11 ships of about 2 500 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) capacity on the service. This is intended to be five from KH, and three each from NYK and CSAV Ð although FTW is led to understand by Jerry Hookins of NYK in SA that the control of the service will be 40% each to NYK and KH, and 20% for CSAV. No detail is available of the port rotation although FTW is reliably informed that Durban will be the SA port of call both east and west bound. Meanwhile, KH is busy upgrading the capacity of its fleet for the SA trade, according to John Lau, m.d. of SA agents United Ships Agency. "The current eleven 1 500 TEU vessels on our Asia/ECSA service will be replaced by the larger ships required for the GEX service," he told FTW. "The smaller ships will either be phased out at the end of their charters, or re-deployed in our fleet." KH currently has two newbuilds on order, due for delivery in the first quarter of next year," Lau added.