Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced the upgrade of its Asia/South Africa/South America East Coast (CSW) service and the opening of a new Asia/South Africa route (ZAX) as follows.

Upgrade of Asia/South Africa/South America East Coast (CSW) service

The company will discontinue calls at Durban on the outward voyage of the CSW weekly service and start direct service from Asia to the east coast of South America in April.

The upgrade will offer more stable scheduling and faster transit times by eliminating calls at Durban, where port congestion is a constant issue. At the same time, the company will increase space for cargo bound from Asia to the South American east coast, in response to rising demand in that market.

MOL operates the CSW service jointly with Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (Pte), Ltd. (PIL). [New CSW Service Calling Ports]

Kobe ' Yokohama ' Nagoya ' Pusan ' Shanghai ' Yantian - Hong Kong ' Singapore ' Santos ' Buenos Aires - Montevideo - Sao Francisco do Sul - Paranagua' Santos - Rio de Janeiro - Cape Town 'Port Elizabeth - Singapore - Hong Kong ' Kobe

New Asia/South Africa service

MOL will start a shuttle service between Singapore and Durban (South African Express = ZAX) in April to replace the calls at Durban eliminated from the CSW service. MOL will operate this weekly service independently, with four containerships in the 1,600 ' 1,700 teu class.

This service offers more flexibility in ship scheduling, as well as increased cargo space to better serve Durban's expanding market. The route restructuring also allows MOL to respond more effectively to port congestion at Durban.

The company will offer the same quality of service to Durban from Japan and other parts of Asia, thanks to its extensive service network. What's more, MOL will greatly increase the frequency of transport from Durban to Asia, with service weekly instead of every 10 days, by switching from the current West Africa (WA1) service to this new ZAX service.

MOL will improve both capabilities and service in the South Africa and South America east coast markets through this restructuring, and plans a similar upgrade for the West Africa service in the future.