MSC and Ocean Network Express (ONE) are restructuring their Asia–South America East Coast vessel-sharing partnership following Hapag-Lloyd’s withdrawal from the three-carrier arrangement, which was expanded in late 2018.
Under the revised agreement, MSC and ONE will jointly operate the weekly Ipanema service, which ONE markets as East Coast South America Express 1 (SX1). The first sailing under the new arrangement is scheduled to depart Shanghai on 3 April 2027.
MSC will deploy additional vessels to compensate for the capacity lost following Hapag-Lloyd’s exit. However, the carrier has not yet disclosed the number of vessels or the additional capacity to be introduced.
The service will connect major Asian ports, including Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong and Singapore, with key destinations in South America. The Brazilian port calls will include Santos, Paranaguá, Navegantes and Rio Grande, alongside Montevideo in Uruguay and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
ONE said the final port rotation remains subject to operational review as the two carriers prepare to implement the revised service structure.