NYK takes slots on Evergreen vessels

Alan Peat
JUST OUT on the wire is confirmation of the long-standing market rumour that GEX (Good Hope Express) member, NYK, is slot-chartering on Evergreen's ESA service.
This arrangement will also include another GEX carrier, Quadrant Container Lines.
Evergreen has agreed to charter 80 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) slots on its G-type vessel (of 2 800 TEU capacity); and 100 TEU on the GX-type (3 500 TEU), for each round trip.
This took effect with the eastbound sailing of the Lt. Going on June 27, and the westbound sailing of the Ever Goods on the 28th.
It's intended to try to ensure a decent balance of supply and demand is maintained on the trade, Quadrant m.d. Murray Grindrod told FTW.
"It is not worth GEX bringing in an extra vessel to do this," he added.
The inclusion of Quadrant in the Evergreen/NYK deal, according to Grindrod, is because of the existing relationship of his line and NYK.
"That has been extended to this Evergreen slot-charter arrangement," he said.
The other members of GEX are Norsul and CSAV.