SINGAPORE's Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Taiwan's Wan Hai Lines have announced the resumption of the FES service from the Far East to northern Europe.

PIL's 4,250-TEU Kota Labai, with 400 reefer plugs, docked at Hamburg on April 15 where 2,032 TEU were loaded and unloaded at the HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT), marking the termination of the first voyage of the resumed service. The next FES ship, the same-sized Wan Hai 510, arrives on April 22.

The FES service had been suspended at the end of 2008 and replaced with a slot charter operation. "Since the cargo flows on the Asia route have picked up, PIL and Wan Hai have now reinstated their service," said the joint company statement.

FES also calls at Antwerp and Rotterdam. On the return leg, the service docks at Port Kelang, Singapore, Shenzhen-Shekou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong and Guangzhou-Nansha.