DANISH shipping giant Maersk will launch on June 21 a second Far East-Mexico- Balboa, Panama service deploying an undetermined number of 4,000-5,000 TEU ships.

The new AC-3, augmenting the existing AC-2 service, will rotate from Qingdao, Kwangyang, Yokohama, Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa and back to Qingdao with a seven-week turnaround.

The existing AC-2 deploys seven 7,400-8,500 TEU ships and calls at Shenzhen-Yantian, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Kwangyang, Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa, Yokohama and back to Shenzhen-Yantian.

The AC-3 starts with the sailing of the Maersk Merlion. Other ships to join this loop are the Maersk Malacca, the Maersk Dampier, Maersk Delmont and the Maersk Darlington. The last two vessels are currently laid up, reports Paris-based Alphaliner.

Alphaliner also notes that the Mexican Port of Lazaro Cardenas is connected to the south western US through rail links and thus also acts as a US gateway, "allowing Maersk to partly avoid the busier and most expensive Californian gateways".