There is increasing evidence of greater cooperation between APL and French shipping giant CMA CGM ahead of the Marseille-based company's takeover of APL's parent, Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL).

APL has added a service connecting the Far East with Mexico and the Caribbean sector through slots on the East Asia-Mexico-Caribbean-NCSA service jointly operated by CMA CGM, CSCL/Cosco and Hapag-Lloyd (PEX 2/CAX 2/ASCA).

APL brands the service 'Asia Caribbean Express' (ACE), with the first sailing from Busan scheduled on March 5, reports Alphaliner.

This service calls at Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai-Yangshan, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shenzhen-Chiwan, China Hong Kong, Ensenada, Manzanillo (Mex), Manzanillo (Panama), Cartagena (Colombia), Kingston, Caucedo, Port of Spain and back to Busan via the Cape of Good Hope on most sailings.

At the same time, CMA CGM has also started taking slots on the Asia-Mexico-Colombia service jointly operated by APL, MOL, NYK and Hanjin (ASA/AMS/AMC/WL1), branding it 'ACSA 5'.

Source: shippingazette.com