ASA Consortium Regroups and Extends Service Network

By mutual agreement, the ASA consortium, comprising Evergreen Marine C
orporation(EMC), HanJin Shipping Co Ltd, Lloyd Triestino(LT) and Regio
nal Container Lines(RSL), have taken initiatives to rationalise its Si
ngapore-Australia(SAX) and North Asia-Australia(NAX) services, details
of the new service pattern, which implemented by mid-April 2000, as f
ollows.
Singapore-Australia Express(SAX):
SAX will continue to be operated under the present joint service agree
ment by HJ, LT and RCL. The existing four 1300TEU vessels will be depl
oyed on the same port rotation, viz, Singapore-Sydney-Melbourne-Brisba
ne-Singapore.
EMC will withdraw from this ASA joint service agreement but will maint
ain its participation in SAX through a slot charter arrangement with A
SA.
North ASA-Australia Express(NAX):
HJ, LT and RCL will withdraw from the existing joint service agreement
for the North Asia-Australia service. HJ And RCL, however, will conti
nue to service the trade with slot charter from two new service string
s which will be operated by EMC and COSCO Container Lines(COSCON);
North Aisa Express (NAE):
Five 1100~1400TEU vessels will be deployed and weekly service covering
Tokyo-Yokohama-Osaka-Busan-Kaohsiung-Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane-Tokyo.
Sino-Australia Service(SAS):Five 1400TEU vessels will be deployed on a
weekly service with calls at Shanghai-Huangpu-HongKong-Sydney-Melbour
ne-Brisbane-HongKong-Shanghai.
The regrouping and restructuring of these services by ASA in collabora
tion with EMC/COSCON will enable ASA to offer the trade tangible benef
its through the extension of ASA’s existing service network and much
faster transits between Australia and Asian ports.