APL meets Asia-Europe challenge with 10,000-TEUers on South China Express

SINGAPORE`s big container shipping line, APL, plans to deploy in December the first two ships of its 10,000-TEU newbuildings on the Far East-Europe South China Express loop (SCX), operated jointly with MOL within the New World Alliance.

NWA partner Hyundai Merchant Marine also co-loads on this service, while CMA CGM and Grand Alliance partners (Hapag-Lloyd/NYK/OOCL) purchase slots, reports Alphaliner.


The two giant newbuildings, the APL Chongqing and APL Kwangyang, are part of a four-ship series ordered by parent by NOL in June 2007 from Hyundai Heavy Industries.


The ships, with another six similar size vessels, are expected to operate on the Asia-Europe trade at a lower speed than initially planned.


The original eight ships are to be handed over between eight and 12 months later than initially planned as their deliveries were deferred in the aftermaths of the September 2008 financial debacle, said Alphaliner.


The report said these ten 10,000-TEU ships are expected to replace on the South China Express by MOL-operated ships and the 8,100-TEU to 8,500-TEU vessels chartered by APL from MOL and MISC (despite a possible loop revision in 2012).


It said the APL Chongqing will replace the 8,110-TEU MOL Creation on the SCX. The displaced ship will then join the NWA`s Asia Europe Express` loop (AEX) that deploys 8,000+ TEU vessels.