ANL-USL strengthen service to Australia

Australia - A prospective three-string service will help boost shipping between the west coast of North America and Australia and New Zealand, as proposed by ANL-USL and the member lines of the Oceania Vessel Sharing Agreement.

The member lines of the Oceania Vessel Sharing Agreement (Hamburg Süd, Hapag-Lloyd, and Maersk Line) and ANL-USL will be offering the service with eight monthly sailings. In addition, ANL-USL will assimilate their existing service with the Oceania VSA.

According to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Anthony Albanese, the country's sea transport saw 733.7 million tonnes of freight worth A$275.4 billion (US$264b) in 2006-2007, an increase of 5.4% on the freight load from 2005-2006.

The country also saw a total of 734.4 million tonnes of international freight moving through Australian ports and airports with a value of A$362.1 billion (US$347.2b) in 2006-2007, an increase of 10.2% from the previous period.

The string services are the weekly Pacific Southwest String (PSW-1), the Pacific Southwest String (PSW-2) and the Pacific Northwest (PNW) that are in operation every fortnight.

Meanwhile, the Oceania VSA will be providing 104 sailings in each direction. Start-up of the new service structure is planned for August.