Samudera Shipping Line (SSL) is looking to expand its feeder network in Asia, as higher volumes and limited shipping capacity create more opportunities for niche operators.

State-run ocean carrier Shipping Corp. of India is ready to start a new service with Swiss carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. between the Indian Subcontinent and the Mediterranean.

Matson Navigation will add a second string of vessels to its China-Long Beach service, bringing new capacity to resurgent trans-Pacific trade lanes.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. will impose a peak season surcharge on all shipments from the Far East to the U.S. East and West Coasts effective Aug. 15. 

Hapag-Lloyd will apply a general rate increase on all cargo moving on its services from the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East to South America East Coast.

The Caribbean Shipowners Association said its member carriers will introduce a rate increase in September and a peak season surcharge from October through December.

CMA CGM took delivery of two new post-Panamax vessels in South Korean shipyards, the 6,500-TEU CMA CGM Lamartine and the 11,400-TEU CMA CGM Callisto.

CMA CGM will seek a general rate increase on all westbound cargo moving on its EPIC Service from India to Europe and the Mediterranean, a third GRI this year.

The Rickmers Group has christened four ultra-large container ships (ULCS) - 13,100 TEU each - at Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard.

MOL, NYK and “K” Line formed a new vessel-sharing alliance to upgrade their container service from Asia to Mexico and the west coast of South America.

“K” Line, China Shipping, and Hapag-Lloyd are teaming up on a new direct service from Asia to West Africa.

The cargo throughput of ports in China totalled 684 million tonnes in May, up 15.2 percent year-on year-and 2.1 percentage points lower than the growth in April, Xinhua reported.

Evergreen Line will provide two vessels on an Asia/Europe service operated by China Shipping and CMA CGM.

OOCL has notified its customers that it will rates on westbound cargo from Asia to Europe cargo as of July 15.

Evergreen Line, China Shipping and CMA CGM will work together to launch an upgraded Asia-Europe AEX7 service.

Robust Intra-Asia trade is set to grow even further as major players expand their services covering the region.

With capacity tight and demand strong on the trans-Pacific trade, the world’s three largest container lines are restoring a joint service to the U.S. West Coast that they had suspended last October.

Hanjin Shipping has announced that it has received its first 10,000 TEU class containership - the first of the series of five 10,000 TEU class ships ordered from Samsung Heavy Industries. 

FESCO Lines Vladivostok is expanding the range of services on the FESCO Korsakov Direct Line, SKRIN Newswire reported.

Overseas Orient Container Lines is raising rates next month for shipments from South China to Australia, adding new lanes to the price hikes the operator has been announcing in the Australia trade.

A new port terminal, designed for handling containerised cargo opened on June 15 in Pohang, South Korea, SKRIN Newswire reported.

MCC Transport is has launched a new weekly Indonesia - Japan (TS4) service that links the ports of Indonesia directly with those in Japan, Taiwan and South China.

COSCO Container Lines will launch a standalone, peak season transpacific service on June 29, according to the carrier's Americas Web site.

OOCL said it will extend and upgrade its intra-Asia KTX3 service as of June 27 with new calls at Singapore, Jakarta and Port Kelang, and increased frequency to and from Jakarta.

French liner carrier CMA CGM said it will raise rates and surcharges on a host of trades on June 15 and July 1.

OOCL said it is increasing freight rates as of July 15 for cargo it transports from Northeast Asia (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea) to Australia.

Container carrier Samudera Shipping Line upgraded its feeder connections between India’s eastern Port of Kolkata and Singapore.

CMA CGM has launched the NEW CIMEX 2 service linking Asia / China to India and Pakistan.

Effective June 15, China Ocean Shipping Co. will apply a peak-season surcharge for all cargo shipped from India to the United States and Canada.  The surcharges will be $320 per 20-foot, $400 per 40-foot, $450 per 40-foot high cube, and $506 per 45-foot container.