MSC signs new VSA to boost Asia-Latin America coverage

Geneva, Switzerland, 10th December 2015

Today, MSC announces it has entered into a new vessel sharing agreement with Hapag-Lloyd, Hamburg Süd, CMA CGM, China Shipping and Hyundai.   The agreement sees the market rationalise one string, reducing overall capacity, while ensuring that MSC customers benefit from a wider port coverage and faster transit times.

Rationalisation

The new-look VSA will be made up of three strings, a step down from the four strings previously in operation across the VSA members.  This rationalisation is considered essential to maintaining continuity of service in the long-term.  MSC’s Andes service will remain in operation with an additional three ports added to the rotation.

Improved services

MSC’s port coverage will increase with the Line now offering services to/from Keelung, Yantian, Ningbo, Yokohama, Iquique, Coronel, Lirquen, San Antonio, Guayaquil and Ensenadas.  The number of weekly sailings available to customers will also increase from one sailing per week to three.  Another notable benefit of the VSA will be notable improvements to transit times.  Customers will be able to enjoy these benefits from as early as 23rd December 2015.

Beyond the port – investing in people and inland logistics

As a world leader in global transportation, MSC continues to make significant investments in its agency network and inland logistics.  Throughout the West Coast of Latin America, MSC has a team of over 950 people and the company owns offices in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru.

An increasingly important part of MSC’s business is collecting and delivering cargo to inland destinations, to achieve this; MSC has heavily invested in its logistics arm Medlog, which manages over 1,200 trucks, 100 depots and 20 warehouses across the globe.  On the routes which are operated within this VSA, MSC offers independent inland logistics services in Ecuador, Peru, Chile and China.  All these services can be booked through MSC offices.

Caroline Becquart, MSC Senior Vice President Asia and Head of VSA’s said, “This VSA enhances MSC’s service offering and gives our customers much more choice including; a wider selection of ports, more weekly sailings and an improved service reliability.  It is no secret that the reduced demand on the trade made this VSA a necessity.”

Alfonso Fusillo, MSC Senior Vice President Latin America commented, “For many years, MSC has been investing across the supply chain. Today, MSC is in a strong position to offer our customers a door-to-door logistics solution.  Over the years, we have invested in trucks, trains, depots, terminals and warehousing that we know adds value to our clients operation.”

Berthing windows are currently being finalized.  Therefore, MSC expects to communicate transit times next week.