Starting from July, Maersk Line will be introducing changes to Maersk Line's Oceania shipping network with direct North Asia port coverage on the ‘Triple Star’ service and the launch of a new direct service, the ‘South Pacific Express’, connecting New Zealand to key markets on the West Coast of South America. Maersk Line is able to bring these upgraded products to New Zealand as we become the first container line to successfully tie NZ to their global mainline networks. This new service set-up is not based on a traditional closed-loop configuration, which gives Maersk Line the unique advantage of running import and export calls independently of each other and thereby facilitating a better balance between capacity supply and customer demand. There will be no changes to the current Northern Star and Southern Star services. Following is an outline of the new service features: Triple Star The enhanced Triple Star service will turn the current bi-weekly product into a regular, weekly frequency, while changing away from the present focus on South East Asia to offering fast, direct connections from seven direct port calls across the North Asian region. With ‘best-in-class’ transit times from Southern China, and a competitive product from Korea, Japan, Eastern China and Taiwan, this superior service has been tailor-made to offer Kiwi importers fast and reliable connections in this important trade lane. The first North Asia-direct import sailing will depart Shanghai on 3 July 2016, with the ‘ALM Dallas’ voyage 1619. Northbound export sailings under the new Triple Star are not planned until later in the year. Service details will be announced as soon as they are finalised. South Pacific Express The South Pacific Express service is designed to provide Maersk Line customers a significantly improved product, including market-leading transit times and nonstop access to a range of strategic ports and logistical entry points in Chile, Peru, Panama, Colombia and Mexico. The first South America-direct export sailing will depart Tauranga on 24 July 2016, with the ‘ALM Dallas’ voyage 1619. Improving Far East to South East India Coverage Effective 13 Aug 2016 from Qingdao, Maersk Line will be upgrading two Chennai Express vessels. With the upgraded capacity, they offer consistency and improved flexibility in capacity from Far East to South East India. Chennai Express (CHX) Busan – Qingdao – Xingang – Busan – Shanghai – Nansha New Port – Tanjung Pelepas – Singapore – Chennai – Krishnapatnam/Kattupalli (biweekly) – Visakhapatnam – Tanjung Pelepas – Singapore Rate Changes Far East Asia to North America General Rate Increase (GRI) Effective date: 1 September 2016 Scope: Far East Asia to North America. General Rate Increase: USD 800/1000/1100/1270 per 20'/40'/40' Highcube/45' Highcube Dry   Bunker Adjustment Factor (SBF)