Thursday, June 26, 2025
Home News HMM adds capacity to North Europe trade

HMM adds capacity to North Europe trade

South Korean liner operator HMM will launch an extra loader service from Busan to North Europe and is considering a similar move for its Far East Russia service.

[s2If is_user_logged_in()]HMM CEO Bae Jae-hoon said on 22 January 2021 that the company is planning to deploy an extra service to carry cargoes from Busan to Hamburg and Rotterdam at the end of January, in response to the government’s call for operators to offer more capacity to local shippers.

HMM CEO Bae Jae-hoon.

Bae’s announcement comes a day before one of HMM’s ships, the 4,600TEU Hyundai Forward, departs on one of various extra loader services to Los Angeles.

Since August 2020, HMM has deployed more than one additional vessel per month. Initially, these extra services were for the Transpacific, which first experienced a capacity overload during an extended peak season last year. Containers and capacity shortages, arising from blanked sailings and the slow return of empty boxes to Asia, has since spread to other trade lanes.

HMM said, “Continuous deployment of temporary ships is expected to greatly help domestic shippers. As the main national shipping company, we have a sense of responsibility and will make efforts to help South Korean exporters.”

In response to media reports stating that HMM will send the 5,000TEU Hyundai Platinum on an extra loader service between Busan and the Far East Russian port of Vladivostok, a company spokesperson told Container News that no firm decision has been taken.

Currently, a chartered 1,500TEU ship, AS Riccarda, serves the regular Busan-Vladivostok route.

However, HMM said, “We’re considering how to deal with a backlog of containers on our Russia services. However, any details have yet to be decided at this stage. Also, we do not see demand increasing in that trade lane yet.”

Martina Li
Asia correspondent[/s2If]

[s2If !is_user_logged_in()]Please login or register to read the rest of the story[/s2If]





Latest Posts

Solstad renews partnership with Marlink

Solstad has renewed its long-standing partnership with Marlink to advance its digitalization strategy through to 2028. Under the new agreement, Marlink will deliver SealinkNextGen, a...

KEZAD and Witthal Gulf Industries sign deal to launch recycling plant

Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Group has signed a 50-year land lease agreement with Witthal Gulf Industries for the establishment of the country’s first...

Emirates Shipping Line announces new service to Seattle

Emirates Shipping Line has announced its entry into the United States market with the launch of the Sun Chief Express service, a direct, fortnightly...

Port of Long Beach approves $833 million budget

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved an $833 million budget for fiscal year 2026, nearly half of which will go toward...

Tykoflex and Kongsberg Discovery develop subsea infrastructure

Tykoflex AB and Kongsberg Discovery have announced a strategic partnership to advance the development of modular, intelligent, and secure subsea infrastructure. This will combine Tykoflex’s...
error: Content is protected !!