In May, shipping lines including Maersk, Zim and MSC will launch a new service called TP23 to connect Vietnam and China with the US East Coast.

Capacity limitations on Pacific shipping routes as well as Southern California ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach have resulted in serious delays in cargo, but Maersk's latest service, in partnership with Zim and the MSC, designed to overcome these restrictions for service to the US East Coast (USEC) via the Panama Canal.

From May this year, the carriers from Denmark and Israel will deploy 10 ships, 8 ships from Maersk and Zim will provide 2 ships, all of which have a capacity of about 6,500 TEU for this service. Meanwhile, the shipping company MSC will be the operating partner without bringing the ship in.

Named TP23, this joint service will connect Vietnam and China with the US East Coast.

The planned route for the TP23 service is Vung Tau, Vietnam / Yantian, South China / Panama Canal / Savannah / Charleston / Newark, announced Maersk.

Maersk points out that this new TP23 service is intended to improve speed, reliability and coverage and to integrate into the land logistics service network in the US East Coast.

Transit times from Yantian to Savannah will be three to four days shorter, at 28-29 days, while Yantian to Charleston will also be 28-29 days, a total of 7 to 8 days savings over current services.

"The Vietnam call has been added to provide more capacity to the rapidly growing market that has seen gains of 52% and 25% the past two years," Maersk added.

Narin Phol, chief executive officer of Maersk North America commented: “Importers are looking for more US East Coast gateways in their Asia/North America supply chains while exporters are looking for more equipment – especially in the Southeast US region. The TP23 service will enable us to address these needs while integrating our Warehousing & Distribution network.”

Maersk's goal for 2021 is to allow customers to grow their businesses through an integrated and efficient supply chain model, Phol said. 

(SOURCES: Maersk, Container-News)