CSCL is understood to have launched an additional service between China and North Europe, offering fortnightly sailings at first (AEX2) with four 5,600-TEU ships, but this has not been confirmed by the company, reported AXS-Alphaliner News.

The line is expected to add to the AEX1 and AEX7 loops. It is not yet clear if CSCL will bring changes to the AEX1 loop. Both the AEX1 and AEX2 schedules include Hamburg and Felixstowe.

Two 8,468-TEU vessels are believed to have been subtracted from the AEX1 service and will join MSC as sublets,

To replace the CSCL America, the carrier has shifted the 8,468-TEU CSCL Asia to the AEX1 from the America-Asia-Middle East service (AMA/AAS) and has replaced the ship with a 5,600-TEU vessel. CSCL's only spare 8,500-TEU ship, the recently delivered Xin Ya Zou, is currently deployed on the China-US run.

The second ship in the Xin Ya Zou series is expected to be delivered before the end of the year. CSCL is the driving force behind the new Asia-Black Sea service launched last month together with K Line, Yang Ming and Zim (ABX/BSX). CSCL providing four 4,250-TEU ships out of the seven deployed.

The new service will help to free up space on the other CSCL services. CSCL used to run a service coded AEX2, operated jointly with Zim, but ended it a year ago.