MSC expanding Asia–USA network
From July on, MSC will not only launch its new ‘Zephyr’ service, but also adjust its ‘Santana’ and ‘Sentosa’ services connecting China and the USA. The ‘Zephyr’, god of wind, will be an Asia–US Gulf Coast and South Atlantic service. It will offer direct weekly connections from northern China and South Korea to the US Gulf Coast. The rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Busan, Cristobal, Houston, Port Everglades, Savannah, Lazaro Cardenas, Shanghai. The start of the ‘Zephyr’ service, with the first sailing of the ‘MSC Bremen’ (the ETD from Shanghai is 20 July) is still subject to regulatory approval.
The ‘Santana’ service rotation will be extended with the addition of Da Chan Bay (China), as well as calls at Baltimore and Boston (both USA). The full rotation of the first sailing by the ‘MSC Ellen’ from Haiphong (the ETD is on 15 July) is Haiphong, Da Chan Bay, Shanghai, Busan, Panama Canal, Charleston, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Suez Canal, Singapore, Haiphong.
The ‘Sentosa’ service will also include two new calls in China – Da Chan Bay and Shekou. The ports of call (first sailing by the ‘Conti Chivalry’, ETD from Singapore is 5 July) will be Port Klang, Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, Laem Chabang, Vung Tau, Da Chan Bay, Shekou, Long Beach, Oakland, Vung Tau. (sh)