DP World’s UK Terminals Start Handling THE Alliance’s Calls

DP World’s UK terminals have welcomed the first services from the Far East following a global shake-up of the world’s shipping lines. 

Inaugural calls of Asia/Europe services by THE Alliance, which comprises Mitsui O.S.K Line (MOL), Yang Ming, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), K Line and Hapag-Lloyd/United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), saw the 20,150 TEU MOL Triumph, the largest vessel to ever call at a UK port berth at DP World Southampton on May 11.

The ultra large container vessel (ULCV) arrived in Southampton as part of THE Alliance’s FE2 service.

Southampton is the only UK port to be handling vessels on services operated by the three major consortia of 2M, Ocean Alliance and THE Alliance, according to DP World. All three alliances have started taking delivery of new ULCVs in 2017, capable of handling more than 20,000 TEU containers.

The port is also expected to welcome 20,568 TEU Munich Maersk later this year.

Furthermore, DP World London Gateway will see the first ever weekly Far East service arrive in the capital when the NYK Lloyd Don Pascuale berths on May 13. The ship will herald the official start of two weekly Asia-Europe service calls, coming just over a month after the port’s third berth opened to handle an increase in cargo brought about by THE Alliance’s Asia-Europe and transatlantic services, DP World said.

Two Far East and two transatlantic services will call at London Gateway, effective from this month – THE Alliance’s FE3 and FE5 and AL1 and AL2.

In March, members of THE Alliance announced that ten of their services will call at DP World’s container terminals at London Gateway and Southampton.

“Welcoming MOL Triumph at Southampton and opening a third berth at London Gateway, as two Far East services begin calling, are significant and proud occasions for DP World in the UK,” Chris Lewis, UK Managing Director, DP World, commented.

“It is an honour to be hosting one of the world’s largest container ships as it arrives in Northern Europe for the first time. And the start of Asia-Europe calls at London Gateway means the River Thames is, once again, a truly international port and shipping hub,” he added.