Hong Kong-based container carrier Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has decided to withdraw a number of Trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe sailings amid the expected low demand following the Chinese New Year.
Namely, on the Asia-North America route the company plans to remove the sailings on the South China 1 (SC1), Central China 4 (CC4) and Singapore Vietnam Express (SVS) services.
Changes in the SC1 service include ETA Xiamen, which will take effect on February 1 for Eastbound voyage, and ETA Los Angeles on February 20 for Westbound. Service will resumes with APL Houston from Xiamen on February 8 and from Los Angeles on February 27.
CC4 service’s Eastbound voyage from Shanghai will be withdrawn starting from February 10, and the Westbound voyage from Los Angeles will be removed on February 26. Service are scheduled to resume with APL Minnesota from Shanghai on February 17 and from Los Angeles on March 5.
Additionally, changed to the SVS service include the Eastbound voyage from Hong Kong, effective on February 10, and Westbound voyage from Norfolk on March 13. These will resume with ZIM Los Angeles from Hong Kong on February 17 and from Norfolk on March 20.
In a separate announcement, OOCL said that it will withdraw a number of sailing on its Asia-Europe route. These changes will affect the Asia – North Europe Service and the Asia – Mediterranean services.
Source: http://www.maritimeherald.com