News / With new ULCVs on the horizon, another Asia-Europe loop was 'inevitable'

The CMA CGM AMERIGO VESPUCCI in the port of Rotterdam

With its member lines receiving a large number of newbuild ULCVs this year the addition of a seventh loop between Asia and North Europe by the Ocean Alliance was “inevitable” said Drewry.

While the 2M rival alliance has opted to accommodate six extra newbuild ULCVs into its network revamp by slowing vessel speeds and cutting port calls in order to allow more buffer time in schedules and thereby to improve reliability, it would appear that the Ocean Alliance had little choice ...