HMM has diverted a multi-purpose vessel (MPV), from its breakbulk service, to fulfill an extra loader service between Busan and the US East Coast for a second time in less than two weeks.
The vessel is the 2011-built HMM Dubai with 1,800TEU container capacity which is usually deployed to the South Korean liner operator’s breakbulk service. On 29 May, HMM Dubai, loaded with 1,232TEU, departed from the Port of Busan for New York, where it is scheduled to arrive on 30 June.
In addition to the HMM Dubai, the Seoul-based carrier has re-assigned seven multi-purpose ships to extra loader services, including MPV Urania, MPV Thalia, HMM Ulsan and Yu Chang.
At the government’s urging, HMM has completed several such ad hoc voyages to provide more shipping capacity to small and mid-sized South Korean exporters.
The company has completed 25 extra loader services from Busan, 14 to Los Angeles, five to the US East Coast, three to Russia, two to Europe and one to Vietnam since August.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
