Apr.20--KOREA's Hanjin Shipping has announced it will expand its east Mediterranean service by joining the existing ABX (Asia-Black Sea Express) string from mid-May and TLS (Turkey-Levant Service) loop from April 25.
    The ABX loop is jointly run by China Shipping, "K" Line, PIL, Wan Hai and Yang Ming at present, covering north China, south west Asia  and the Black Sea regions with eight 4,000- to 4,250-TEU vessels.
    With a transit time of 26 days from Shanghai to Constanza, the ABX loop calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen-Shekou, Singapore, Port Kelang, Piraeus, Istanbul, Constanza, Ilichevsk, Port Kelang and back to Shanghai.
    And the TLS loop is currently operated by Arkas Line and Turkon Line, each deploying one 2,000- to 3,000-TEU vessel. Hanjin will add a third ship to this weekly service that links Port Said and Piraeus to Turkey and Levant regions.
    "Using Port Said and Piraeus as transshipment hubs, TLS service will cover all major Turkish ports in addition to Lebanon and Egypt so as to fulfil customers' demand in the area," said a Hanjin's statement.
    Port rotation of the TLS service is Port Said, Alexandria, Beirut, Mersin, Piraeus, Evyap, Istanbul, Gemlik, Izmir, Mersin and back to Port Said.
    Hanjin said it also launched its own ADN (Adriatic) service in early April to build presence in the area.

(Source:shippingazette)