PT.ZHONGHAI INDO SHIPPING

CHINA - China Shipping Container Lines Co. (CSCL) reported today that they expect a return to net profit based on preliminary figures. As the country’s primary container carrier and, according to their own statistics, now fifth largest in the world by capacity with over 130 vessels and a total carrying capacity of around 350,000 TEU, the final first half results will be keenly awaited by many.
The company believes the turnaround is due to a variety of factors including an improvement in container numbers, rate and surcharge stabilisation and cost reduction measures they have undertaken. Last year’s comparative figures resulted in a net loss of over half a billion dollars for the first six months of trading. The finalised and adjusted first half earnings for 2010 will be officially reported next month.
Elsewhere in the China Shipping Group the company’s joint venture with Jumbo Heavy Lift, Dutch project forwarding specialists, has opened a second office in the country. The Beijing office follows the first office opened in China Shipping’s native Shanghai eight years ago.

UASC, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine and CSCL plan to commence a new joint South East Asia-Australia service called the Asia Australia Container Service 1 (AAC1), starting from the first half of September.
The service will link Port Kelang and Singapore to Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and return via Jakarta. It will deploy four 2,200- to 2,300-TEU ships, with each carrier providing one ship, reports Alphaliner.
It said the AAC1 will act as a relay service, allowing each carrier to connect its respective trade areas to Australia.

Direct Asia-Africa vessel sharing agreement to replace feeder service. “K” Line, China Shipping, and Hapag-Lloyd are teaming up on a new direct service from Asia to West Africa.“K” Line said the new service will replace its current feeder service from South Africa to West Africa using transshipment from Far East to South Africa.The three carriers will deploy eight 2,500-TEU vessels, with “K” Line providing three, China Shipping four, and the remaining one vessel coming from Hapag-Lloyd.The service will have a 70-day round trip voyage on the following rotation: Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Shekou, Port Kelang, Durban (South Africa), Tema (Ghana), Lome (Togo), Cotonou (Benin), Tincan Island (Nigeria), Durban, Port Kelang and back to Shanghai.
The service will start with the departure of the “CSCL Montevideo” from Shanghai on July 21.