Japanese carriers "K" Line and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. - MOL - announced
plans to upgrade their Asia-Mexico/South America West Coast service with the introduction of a second loop.

The lines operate today a joint service on the Asia/Mexico-South America West Coast route (CWL), and will separate into two loops. This will greatly shorten the transit time between Asia and the South America West Coast, and help expand the service.

Loop 2 will also add a call at Ningbo, China, to meet active seaborne trade from that area.

[Rotation]
Loop 1(WL1) - Weekly fixed-day service with nine 2,500 TEU-class full
containerships Keelung (Taiwan) - Hong Kong - Chiwan (China) - Xiamen (China) - Shanghai (China) - Qingdao (China) - Pusan (S. Korea) - Manzanillo (Mexico) - Iquique (Chile) - Valparaiso (Chile) -Lirquén (Chile) - Yokohama - Keelung (Taiwan)
Loop2 (WL2) - Weekly fixed-day service with eight 1,700 TEU-class full
containerships
Yokohama - Ningbo (China) - Shanghai (China) - Pusan (S. Korea) - Manzanillo
(Mexico) - Buenaventura (Colombia) - Callao (Peru) - Yokohama

The upgraded twice-weekly service will connect other Asian ports through
feeder services, the carriers added.

[Start of service]

Loop 1: M/V HS Challenger, departing Keelung on March 22
Loop 2: M/V Hansa Aalesund, departing Ningbo on March 30