A new container service connecting northern Europe with China and Malaysia has begun with the handling of the CSCL Long Beach vessel at the HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai in Hamburg, Germany.

The new French-Asia-Line 4 (FAL-4)/Asia-Europe-Express-Service 8 (AEX-8) service represents a joint venture between CMA CGM and China Shipping (CSCL).

Both groups are deploying four ships for the service, each with a capacity of approximately 9,600 TEU.

The port rotation in the Far East is Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian (Shenzhen), Nansha (Guangzhou) and Port Kelang, from where the service proceeds to Zeebrugge and Hamburg.

Vessels then return to Shanghai via Rotterdam, with a total transit time of 28 days.