Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) have suspended their extra transpacific service, added in response to the collapse of Hanjin Shipping, after just three sailings.

In its weekly newsletter analyst Alphaliner said that the 2M partners had stopped advertising the TP1/Maple service after just three successive sailings.

The service calling at Yantian, Shanghai, Busan and Long Beach started in mid-September to meet demand from shippers following the suspension of Hanjin services.

Originally the lines had planned to deploy six 4,000 teu vessels on the service, however according to Alphaliner the three vessels that were deployed were much larger and between 7,800 teu and 9,400 teu.

“It is unclear if Maersk and MSC could resume the service at a later stage, but weak demand and faltering freight rates may prompt the two partners to operate additional extra loaders only on inducement,” the report said.

Source: seatrade-maritime.com