The world’s three largest shipping companies have launched a set of shared services between Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Korea and the United States west coast. In a February 29 press release, the three major shipping lines, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk Line and CMA-CGM indicated that they have “rationalized” their shipping services in response to the “global trade situation.” The new services will take effect in April 2008.

The first service called Eagle Express or Yang Tse Rotation, will cover Central China and South China, calling on Hong Kong, Yantian, Kachsiung, Shanghai, Quindao and Los Angeles.

The second service, the New Orient Express or Bohai Rotation, will cover Central and North China, calling at Dalian, Tianjin, Xingang, Shanghai, Ningbo, Long Beach and Oakland, California. The new services will deploy ten 8,000 TEU vessels (five on each leg) creating a weekly direct service between China and the United States. Four vessels will be operated by Maersk Lines, four vessels by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and two vessels by CMA-CGM.

“Given the rising cost of bunker and the distances traveled, a post-Panamax level of efficiency and cost base is need to the trans-Pacific” stated Robert Kledal, VP or Route Management for Maersk. “The 8,000 TEU vessels on the two largest loops of this new network make this an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for our customers.”

The third service, called the Sunrise, in which MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA-CGM will slot charter space on Maersk Line’s service, will cover ports in Korea and Japan (Kwangyang, Busan, Kobe, Shimizu, Nagoya, Yokohama) en route to Los Angeles and Oakland. This service will be operated by five 4,000 TEU vessels.

The three companies are seeking to provide consistent weekly departures on these important trade routes, extensive port coverage and shorter transit times while reducing operating costs and improving profits.