Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, 9 November 2007 - The New World Alliance (TNWA) carriers - APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) - today announced their intention to significantly upgrade ship capacity and enhance the port coverage of a major Asia-Europe service offering.


In response to continued robust customer demand in the Asia-Europe trade, the Alliance will from January 2008 phase in eight ships with capacity ranging from 8,100-8,500 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) on the South China Express (SCX) service.


The SCX will also make new calls at the major Chinese ports of Ningbo and Shanghai as well as making a westbound call at the UK's Thamesport facility.


The enhanced port rotation will be Zeebrugge, Thamesport, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Singapore, Chiwan, Ningbo, Yangshan, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Zeebrugge.


About the New World Alliance
TNWA member lines APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), serve more than 40 ports using in excess of 100 containerships in the major East-West container trades.