Senator Lines has joined the new China North Express Service (CNX) between Quingdao and Hamburg, signalling a further recovery of the crisis-stricken group.

The service was launched by Hanjin Shipping and United Arab Shipping Company.

Hanjin is also majority owner of Bremen-based Senator Lines.

The CNX service starts from Quingdao on November 20 with the 2,800 TEUs Ibn Asakir.

The first sailing of the eastbound leg will leave Hamburg on December 25. It will be followed by the 4,000 TEUs Hanjin Los Angeles.

The port rotation will be Quingdao, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jeddah, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Jeddah, Singapore, Quingdao.

With the new service, which offers a direct connection between Hong Kong and Hamburg and Antwerp, the container shipping line wants to strengthen its position in the growing Asia-Northern Europe trade.

Recently, Senator Lines added the FMS service between Asia and the Middle East to its schedule.

It is now offering 14 services. By the end of last year, the company had reduced its services to 12 and cut a number of jobs.