Maersk has announced the permanent removal of Gwangyang, Republic of Korea, from the port rotation of its Asia–West Coast Latin America (AC3) service, effective with voyage 619E departing Asia on 19 May 2026. The adjustment will also apply to the corresponding westbound leg, beginning with voyage 624W departing Balboa, Panama, on 9 June 2026.

This revision reflects Maersk’s ongoing network optimization strategy—focused on enhancing schedule adherence, reducing transit time variability, and improving asset utilization across its trans-Pacific trade lane. While no direct replacement port call has been disclosed, the recalibration aligns with broader efforts to streamline port coverage in line with evolving cargo demand patterns, vessel deployment efficiency, and terminal productivity benchmarks.

The AC3 service serves as a core maritime link between major container ports in Northeast and Southeast Asia—including Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Yantian—and key West Coast destinations in Latin America such as Callao (Peru), San Antonio (Chile), and Balboa (Panama). Its reconfigured rotation continues to support resilient and scalable trade flows across the Pacific basin.

The withdrawal of Gwangyang is expected to redirect certain cargo volumes toward alternative regional gateways—including Busan and Qingdao—where Maersk maintains established infrastructure, higher frequency services, and stronger intermodal connectivity.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/TLYKG9f_tfFQDWaq0lEuqQ