MAERSK is to join Cosco and ANL in a slot-share in its Sino-Australia service (SAS) with a first sailing from Ningbo on September 1 of the Cosco Xiamen.

There are six vessels servicing the route in the 5,800-TEU range following a port rotation of Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and back to Ningbo.

Maersk joins eight slot buyers which include NYK, MOL, "K" Line, OOCL, GSL, Evergreen and RCL. This is the third weekly service Maersk has added on the North Asia-China-Australia loop that includes the Boomerang and slots on the recently resumed AAUS' service Yoyo following a six-week break.