MSC and Ocean Network Express (ONE) are set to renew their vessel-sharing agreement for the weekly service linking Asia with the East Coast of South America. This new arrangement will take effect in April 2027, following the conclusion of the current three-carrier partnership with Hapag-Lloyd.
Once the agreement begins, MSC and ONE will operate the service independently of Hapag-Lloyd. MSC markets this service under the name “Ipanema,” while ONE refers to it as the East Coast South America Express 1 (SX1).
New Operations Commence in April 2027
The first sailing under the new collaboration is scheduled to leave Shanghai on April 3, 2027. MSC has announced plans to deploy additional vessels to enhance the service following Hapag-Lloyd’s exit; however, specific details regarding the number or capacity of these vessels have yet to be disclosed.
The revised service will maintain fixed-day weekly sailings that cater to major Asian ports and key destinations on the East Coast of South America. Ports included in the route are Santos, Paranaguá, Navegantes, and Rio Grande in Brazil, as well as Montevideo in Uruguay and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Service Route Details
The tentative rotation for the Ipanema and SX1 services is as follows: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Santos, Paranaguá, Navegantes, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, and back to Paranaguá, Navegantes, Santos, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
ONE has indicated that this rotation is still subject to further operational review. The revamped structure aims to bolster schedule reliability while ensuring ongoing direct service between essential Asian ports and South American markets.
