OOCL to Cut October Asia-Mediterranean Sailing

Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is to cancel the sailing of its Asia-Mediterranean Service in October due to the expected low demand.

On the Asia-Europe route, the company plans to withdraw the EUM sailing of the Hyundai Tenacity 022 west/east, with an estimated time of arrival in Pusan on October 9, 2016, in Week 41 on the westbound port rotation and in Genoa on November 9, 2016, in Week 45 on the eastbound port rotation.

The WB and EB port rotations are as follows:

Westbound: Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Hong Kong – Singapore – Jeddah – Port Said- Genoa – Fos – Barcelona – Valencia;

Eastbound: Genoa – Fos – Barcelona – Valencia – Port Said – Jeddah – Singapore – Hong Kong – Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou.

OOCL handled 2.8 mln TEUs in the first six months of this year, compared to 2,7 mln TEUs in the first half of 2015.

The Asia-Europe service was the only underperformer for the period, marking a 3.6% dip in volumes, while the volumes of OOCL’s other services increased.