MOL, K Line boosting Asia/South America capacity

Japanese shipping companies MOL and K Line are about to add a second weekly joint service in the Asia/Mexico/West Coast South America trade.

The two services, referred to by MOL as WL1 and WL2, will replace the existing CWL/New Andes loop, which uses 10 ships averaging 2,443 TEUs.

Starting with the 2,747-TEU HS Challenger, departing Keelung on March 22, the WL1 service will deploy nine ships of about 2,500 TEUs on a rotation of Keelung; Hong Kong; Chiwan; Xiamen; Shanghai; Qingdao; Busan; Manzanillo, Mexico; Iquique; Valparaiso; Lirquen; Yokohama; and back to Keelung.

WL2 will use eight 1,700 TEU-class vessels calling Yokohama; Ningbo; Shanghai; Busan; Manzanillo, Mexico; Buenaventura; Callao; and Yokohama. The 1,550-TEU capacity Hansa Aalesund will kick start the second loop when it departs Ningbo on March 30.

The two carriers said both strings would connect to other Asian ports by feeder service.