ANL, COSCO and OOCL have launched a new service connecting Sydney and Brisbane in Australia with Shekou and Shanghai in China.

The new A3 Express Loop includes direct, weekly sailings, starting with the arrival in Australia of the Spirit of Hong Kong this month.

The service is running 3700-TEU capacity vessels operating on a 35-day round trip.

DP World Australia is to handle the A3X’s ships at its Port Botany and Brisbane terminals.

DPWA CEO Andrew Adam said: “following increasing pressures on the supply chain to provide reliable access for importers and exporters, the company is delighted to welcome the new service to its two terminals.

“DP World Australia continues to delivery productivity and service reliability despite recent global economic conditions, and the new A3 Express Loop will complement the existing A3 services that call at DP World in Australia,” Mr Adam said.

A spokesperson for the consortium said: “We are pleased to introduce the new A3 Express Loop into Australia to provide the most comprehensive port coverage out of North East Asia”.