UASC signs cooperation agreements with CSCL and CMA CGM
The agreements (a combination of vessel sharing agreements, slot exchange agreements and slot charter agreements) will complete the UASC offering in some of the largest and most important global maritime markets, which in summary shall include:
- Asia-Europe trade: 4 weekly services
- Asia-Mediterranean trade: 4 weekly services (2 to the Mediterranean, 1 to the Adriatic and 1 to the Black Sea, which is the only direct service in the Black Sea market)
- Transpacific: 5 weekly services (4 to California and 1 to the Pacific Northwest including USA and Canada)
- Asia-US East Coast trade: 1 service via the Suez Canal and 1 service dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico
Additional coverage in East-West trades will continue through the slot exchange and slot charter agreements already in place with various other partners. Potential further agreements related to the Transatlantic trade are still under discussion and will be announced in due course.
The new service offering will facilitate greater speed and reliability with an expanded geographic coverage. Service rotations will be optimized with calls in all the biggest Asian, European and North American ports, using transshipment hubs common to the three partners. Finally, the number of weekly calls and associated transit times will be among the best in the respective markets.
We are very pleased to have signed these agreements with partners whom we know well and appreciate, said Jorn Hinge, UASC President and CEO. These agreements enable UASC to continue to focus on being a leading provider of the highest levels of customer service in the industry. We recognize that without our customers' support we can never achieve our goals and we always ensure that the customer comes first, Hinge commented.
These agreements are pending regulatory approval from the Federal Maritime Commission.