The Transpacific Latin Pacific 8 (TLP8) route complements OOCL’s 4 existing routes (TLP1, TLP2, TLP5, and TLP6), shortening transit times from Qingdao, China to Ensenada, Mexico to 16 days and to Manzanillo, Mexico to 20 days.

The TLP8 route will call at: Shanghai - Qingdao - Ensenada - Manzanillo - Ensenada - Yokohama - Shanghai. The first voyage is scheduled to depart on 20/8 from Shanghai.

Analysts suggest OOCL may be shifting vessels from US trade routes to this route to mitigate the impact of fees imposed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Chinese-owned and built vessels calling at US ports.

OOCL, a Hong Kong-based container line founded in 1969, operates a fleet of over 100 vessels with a total capacity exceeding 800,000 TEU, serving a network of more than 70 countries and territories. Since 2018, OOCL has been a subsidiary of the Chinese shipping company Cosco Shipping.

The Dan (according to Seatrade Maritime News)