Lotus Containers, a German container leasing company, announced that it has started its own shipping line, called Carrier53.
According to the company’s website, the new shipping line will be “Helping to break the supply chain crunch by dedicated service.”
Lotus also said that Carrier53 will be an expansion on the services it already provides.
Beginning this month, the shipping line will start service between China and the U.S. West Coast. The initial sailings will be between Humen and Taicang in China and go to Portland, Oregon. The company’s website shows additional routes between Qingdao, China and U.S. terminals either in Portland or Los Angeles from the three Chinese ports. The website also indicated there would be a special voyage from Hamburg to Mexico in September and October.
Carrier53’s initial fleet will consist of six general purpose cargo ships, and they can reportedly each carry up to 700 TEU using the larger 53-foot boxes.
With the global supply chain being hit hard due to a variety of reasons this year, other companies have already formed their own shipping lines to combat the strains. LIDL, Global Seas Logistics, and FedEx are among the companies who have launched their own services this year.
