The upsizing took four months to complete since the introduction of the first 9,814 TEU ships in February. The Cap San Artesmssio replaced the 7,154-TEU Santa Isabel, the last small ship used on the service.
The port rotation has also been extended by one to eight weeks, with an eighth 9,814-TEU ship added, the Cap San Maleas, joining in Buenos Aires in July, reported Alphaliner.
The Cap San Artesmssio and Cap San Maleas were delivered in April and May. The vessels were positioned from Asia to the Europe-East Coast South America (ECSA) through a westbound trip on the multi-carrier Asia-ECSA 'Itajai Express' service.
The Itajai Express is operated jointly by Hamburg Sud, CSCL, Hanjin Shipping, CCNI, Maersk Line and CMA CGM. The ships operating the service are fitted with 2,100 reefer plugs.
The Plate loop calls at: Rotterdam, London-Gateway, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Itaguai, Santos, Paranagua, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande do Sul, Itapoa, Paranagua, Santos, Tangier, returning to Rotterdam.