The cellular fleet engaged in dedicated Transatlantic liner services between North Europe/Med and Canada, the US and Mexico, has decreased by 8.2% year-on-year. Almost 91,100 teu slots were removed from the trade. The reduction is not only the result of the closure of a few loops, but also due to the replacement of large ships by smaller units.
CMA CGM (-30.9%) and COSCO SHIPPING Lines (-22.7%) have percentagewise withdrawn the most tonnage from the North Atlantic. The two carriers last August closed their joint Med – US Gulf – Mexico “MEDGULF / MDX” loop.
Evergreen normally also provides one ship to the Ocean Alliance ‘TAT2’, but temporarily withdrew the 9,466 teu EVER LIVING in July. After filling a gap in an Asia – North Europe loop, the ship will rejoin the Transatlantic on 31 October.
Hapag-Lloyd is the only carrier which increased its Transatlantic fleet, adding 12,500 teu (+6%) over the past twelve months. The German operator in fact now deploys two more vessels on the trade.
Despite closing an East Med – USEC ‘Turkey & Greece to US’ service, MSC remains by far the market leader on the Transatlantic.
Source: Alphaliner
