SIMIC

The operator is expected to see its first 1,000-TEU capacity vessel in Hamburg on February 28. The ship is carrying 435 FEUs for customers who have had difficulty securing space with regular carriers at a viable rate.

The next vessel was scheduled to leave Shanghai on February 10, and depending on demand, GEODIS will plan additional sailings over the coming weeks.

"We understand the current market challenges resulting from unprecedented customer demand and the limitations of ocean carrier capacity and sailings from China and other parts of Asia," said GEODIS senior vice president Mathias Hansen.

"We are working hard to find solutions for our customers. Hence, this exclusive vessel charter to supplement fixed long-term agreements we have with core carriers. We strive to deliver certainty to our customers amid the unstable market," said Mr Hansen.

GEODIS' regional president Onno Boots declared how the market forces have created variable and unprecedented spikes in demand for Asian goods.

"These market forces have created variable and unforeseen spikes in demand for Asian goods. Our primary aim is to offer multimodal solutions to our existing customers to enable them to ship on time and in a reasonably economic manner," said Mr Boots.

As an adaptable and innovative service provider, GEODIS is permanently looking for alternatives including rail, ocean and air products that fulfil this aim for shippers on the increasingly volatile Far East Westbound (FEWB) trade lane," said Mr Boots.