MSC plans to rationalise capacity within its transpacific network from April to June 2020. This is necessary in order to respond to lower demand due to the increased impact of COVID-19 across Asia, the USA and Canada. The network is being redesigned to ensure that coverage is maintained with minimal disruption to current services.

Asia to USWC

MSC will temporarily suspend our Orient service during the second quarter of 2020, effective from week 17. 

Orient service - The first vessel to stop its rotation is the Maersk Antares voyage 017N, ETS 21/04/2020, which rotates as follows: 

Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – Busan – Long Beach – Oakland

It has been decided that ports inducement will take place on the corresponding services to ensure the continuity of current coverage with minimal disruption. 

Asia to USEC 

MSC will temporarily suspend our Elephant service during the second quarter of 2020, effective from week 16. 

Elephant service - The first vessel blanking is Maersk Semakau voyage 017W, ETS 18/04/2020, which rotates as follows: 

Laem Chabang – Singapore – Tanjung Pelepas – Colombo – Salalah – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Freeport  

We will also implement the below ad-hoc sailing omissions for the following services and weeks: 

Elephant service - Omit week 14 MV BRIGHTON voyage 015W, ETS 04/04/2020

Rotation: Laem Chabang – Singapore – Tanjung Pelepas – Colombo – Salalah – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Freeport 

Emerald service 

Omit week 17 CPO HAMBURG voyage UL017E, ETS 18/04/2020

Omit week 21 TBN 21E voyage UL021E, ETS 16/05/2020 

Rotation: Singapore – Xiamen – Yantian – Shanghai – Busan – Savannah – Norfolk – Charleston  

Amberjack service

Omit week 19 TBN voyage 02E, ETS 07/05/2020 

Omit week 23 CAPE TAINARA voyage 6E, ETS 06/06/2020 

Rotation: Xingang – Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Busan – Kingston – Savannah – Charleston – Wilmington – Jacksonville  

Pelican service  

Omit week 16 TBN voyage 016E, ETS 18/04/2020 

Rotation: Xiamen – Yantian – Busan – Houston – Mobile – Tampa  

Customers may continue to place bookings with limited disruption as MSC arranges a contingency plan with alternative services. 

Additional blank sailings on other services may be announced during the coming weeks, depending on market demand.