End of the Line, as we know it

In a world where lines share slots, so that almost ever shipping line slots with every other line, and where most have daily services, on major routes, and weekly services on others, the time has come to relook at the liner service and schedule.

No one even looks at schedules in detail much any more, let alone knows where containers are transhipped, most people do not understand that although they may book with 1 container line, it is almost certain that their container will go on at least 2 different lines vessels, and may not even go on any ship belonging to the line they actually booked with.

So the question must then be asked, why do we have lines at all.

why do several lines with daily services all call all the same major ports in each region and not consolidate ports of call to achieve better efficiencies. Already MSC and Maersk share the main routes with sailings every 48 hours between main ports, 1 Maersk Sailing then 1 MSC sailing, similarly CMA-CGM and Cosco, so why not simply put the container down and let it go on the first possible sailing?

And while we are at it, why not then, for example have 1 sailing direct to each region, ie Europe to Middle East, 1 to South East Asia and 1 to Far East, instead of each mainline vessel stopping off in Middle East and South East Asia before Far East?

Its time for the Shipping companies to rethink the service patterns and focus on achieving efficiencies and Eco savings by reviewing these. For the container sector, with the key 2020 Low Sulphur regulations coming, this should be a no brainer, and can only imagine they are doing this already, without actually advertising it, to avoid looking like they are giving up services or ports. Sad actually that most are more worried about that than trumpeting their eco savings, which is much more important at this stage.