Maersk Line announced today the optimization of its AC network with the launch of its new AC1 service, connecting the West Coast of Latin America with Asia.

Maersk Line will add a third loop to the AC network as of the end of June.

The new service will provide Maersk Line’s customers with reduced transit times and greater port coverage on certain corridors, while maintaining the network’s stability. Although the overall capacity on the AC network will remain the same, Maersk will be reducing the size of vessels operating on the AC2 service, which will enable the shipping line to introduce a third loop to the network.

“We are optimizing our Asia-West Coast Latin America network to provide our customers with faster access to their markets in order to fuel their business growth,” explains Dean Rodin, Maersk Line’s head of trade for Latin America and Oceania. “These enhancements will benefit our customers with faster cargo deliveries and more direct port coverage.”

The West Coast Latin America-to-Asia route is important to the movement of fresh goods, such as fish and fruits, to Asia, as well as imports of electronics, appliances, cars, toys, ceramic tiles, steel, and glass to Latin America. The new service will provide better connections and improved transit times between South and East China, Taiwan, and South East Asia to San Antonio in Chile and Callao in Peru.

Maersk says the AC1 service is the only direct service in the market from Nansha to West Coast South America and that it will provide the fastest service, at 27 days, from Chiwan to San Antonio and Callao. The service will provide two weekly sailings from Shanghai and Ningbo to the West Coast South America and will feature a direct call from San Vicente, Chile, to Taiwan.

Maersk Line’s current offerings from China, Korea and Japan to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean via Panama will be maintained on the AC2 and AC3 services.