Danish shipping line Maersk has announced temporary changes to its TP7 transpacific service following China's implementation of new port fees on U.S.-linked vessels. The adjustments, which took effect on 14 October, affect two of the company's U.S.-flagged containerships previously scheduled to call at Chinese ports.
Maersk confirmed that the vessel Potomac Express will bypass Ningbo and instead discharge cargo at Busan, South Korea, where transhipments will be transferred to other vessels. "Ningbo exports to the United States will be loaded on the Maersk Luz and connect to the Potomac Express in Kwangyang on 24 October 2025," the company said.
Similarly, the Maersk Kinloss will also cease calls at Ningbo. Import cargoes will now be discharged at a South Korean port and relayed to Ningbo and other destinations within Maersk's network. Exports from or via Ningbo to the United States that were previously routed on this vessel will instead be shipped to South Korea for onward transhipment.
According to Lloyd's List, both vessels operate on Maersk's TP7 route and were built in South Korea. Data from Seaexplorer shows that all vessels currently deployed on this service are U.S.-flagged, with capacities ranging between 6,200 and 6,900 TEU.
This marks the first response by a major carrier to the new Chinese port fee regulations, though industry observers expect other lines to follow with similar operational changes.
Linerlytica estimates that the new measures could cost carriers up to US$3.9 billion in the first year for calls at Chinese ports, compared with an estimated US$1.2 billion that Chinese operators would pay to call at U.S. ports that started 14 October.
Source: Kuehne+Nagel News
