Hamburg Süd ship

The Grand Alliance (GA) has announced that it is entering into a partnership with Germany-based shipping group Hamburg Süd on the Atlantic Express service, which is currently operated by GA alongside Zim Integrated Shipping Services.

According to the group, which consists of Hapag-Lloyd, MISC Berhad, NYK and OOCL, the cooperation is aimed at addressing declining volumes in the transatlantic, while allowing the Grand Alliance to continue offering customers a 'competitive and high-quality service'.

Port rotation on the Atlantic Express service will remain the same, with calls at Rotterdam, Hamburg, Le Havre, Southampton, New York, Norfolk, Charleston and Rotterdam.

Initially chartering slots, Hamburg Süd may provide a vessel to the service at a later stage, the Grand Alliance said.

Despite being part of the GA, MISC Berhad does not operate on the transatlantic route and is therefore not part of the deal.