THE Containership Company (TCC) is not practicing super slow steaming (SSS) on its newly launched Taicang-Los Angeles Great Dragon service.

The smallest of the five ships currently deployed on the service, the 2,564-TEU Taicang Dragon will be phased out from 23 June. The TCC service will then be run with four ships, with the average service speed increased from 15 to 19 knots, reports Alphaliner.

It said TCC will also increase the service's capacity on the back of strong cargo volumes. It has agreed to charter three vessels of 2,932 TEU from Danaos Shipping that had been previously chartered by CMA CGM.

These vessels are fixed for 12-36 months with an option for TCC to purchase them.

"The weekly capacity of the Great Dragon service currently stands at 2,829 TEU in nominal terms and will be increased marginally to 2,953 when the new vessels are deployed. Although the upgrade seems limited in nominal TEU terms, the replacement units have a significantly higher capacity of TEU at 14 tons than four of the five ships presently running the service," said Alphaliner.
(source:www.schednet.com)