2026 Golden Week Blank Sailing | MSK HPL MSC Voyage Adjustment

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1. Background of Carrier Capacity Adjustment for China Golden Week

During China’s National Day Golden Week holiday, local manufacturing plants suspend production, port and inland logistics manpower drops, resulting in a temporary fall in export cargo volumes. Major container carriers proactively manage capacity by implementing blank sailings, adjusting port calls and merging liner services to align vessel supply with real market demand.

For 2026, cancelled sailings are concentrated between late September and mid‑October. This critical window coincides with Chinese exporters shipping Christmas‑season goods and chasing annual export targets. The published revisions represent only the initial round of changes. Additional blank sailing announcements from other shipping lines are likely as the holiday approaches. Exporters and freight forwarders should closely monitor real‑time schedule updates.

1.1 Main Trade Lanes Affected

The schedule revisions cover key global container trade routes:

• Far East ↔ Europe (North Europe & Mediterranean)
• Far East ↔ US West Coast
• Far East ↔ US East Coast

2. Maersk (MSK) Golden Week Shipping Schedule Revisions

Maersk issued the first customer advisory on August 20, optimizing Far East‑Europe liner networks in response to projected lower cargo demand and reduced port labour over the holiday. A further Trans‑Pacific adjustment notice was released on August 28. Maersk will add extra port calls on retained sailings to maintain port coverage and minimise booking disruption for shippers.

2.1 Cancelled Voyages: Far East to Europe

1. AE15, Week 40, Voyage 640W/645E, ETD Qingdao: Sep 28
2. AE12, Week 41, Voyage 641W/648E, ETD Ningbo: Oct 08
3. AE1, Week 41, Voyage 641W/648E, ETD Shanghai: Oct 10

2.2 Cancelled Voyages: Trans‑Pacific (Far East‑North America)

Asia to US West Coast

• TP8 Voyage 640E blank sailed, First loading port Busan, ETD Oct 09; return Voyage 644W also cancelled, ETD Los Angeles: Nov 01

Asia to US East Coast

• TP12 Voyage 641E blank sailed, First loading port Ningbo, ETD Oct 09; return Voyage 647W also cancelled, ETD Newark: Nov 18

3. Hapag‑Lloyd (HPL): Schedule Changes & Alternative Sailings

Hapag‑Lloyd revised multiple Far East‑North America and Far East‑Europe rotations. For several cancelled departures, the carrier has designated replacement voyages and ad‑hoc port calls.

3.1 Cancelled Voyages: Far East to North America

1. WC2 USWC Service (Week 40): Vessel Guthorm Maersk, Voyage 640E, Shanghai Oct‑10 sailing cancelled
2. AA7 USEC Service (Week 40): Vessel Wan Hai A13, Ningbo Oct‑01 sailing cancelled
3. US2 USEC Service (Week 41): Vessel Navios Unison, Voyage 641E, Ningbo Oct‑07 sailing cancelled
   • ✅ Alternative: US1 service Vessel Maersk Shams departs Haiphong Oct‑02 with an extra call at Norfolk, USA

3.2 Cancelled Voyages & Replacements: Far East to Europe

1. NE2 North Europe Service (Week41) Voyage 641W, Shanghai Oct‑10 sailing cancelled
   • Alternatives: NE3 (Maersk Cambridge, Shanghai ETD Oct‑06) / NE1 (Al Nefud, Shanghai ETD Oct‑10)
2. SE3 Mediterranean Service (Week40) Voyage 640W, Qingdao Sep‑28 sailing cancelled
3. SE1 Mediterranean Service (Week41) Voyage 641W, Ningbo Oct‑08 sailing cancelled
   • Alternatives: SE4 (Berlin Maersk, Qingdao ETD Oct‑01) / SE3 (Mayview Maersk, Ningbo ETD Oct‑12)

4. MSC Confirmed Golden Week Blank Sailing List

MSC published two successive customer advisories on August 24 and August 26, confirming 6 blank‑sailed export voyages around the 2026 National Day holiday. The adjustments are driven by expectations of softer cargo demand during and after the holiday period. MSC states alternative liner services remain open for shipper bookings.

4.1 Four Cancelled Voyages: Asia to Europe

1. JADE (Asia‑Mediterranean) GJ639W｜Week 39
2. SWAN (Asia‑North Europe) FW640W｜Week 40
3. BRITANNIA (Asia‑North Europe) QB640W｜Week 40
4. LION (Asia‑North Europe) GL641W｜Week 41

4.2 Two Cancelled Voyages: Asia to US West Coast

1. ORIENT GO640N｜Week 40
2. PEARL GO641N｜Week 41

5. Practical Guidance for Export‑Oriented Enterprises

1. Pay special attention to bookings, cut‑off times and vessel departures from late September through mid‑October.
2. Confirm space availability with freight forwarders and carriers and watch for real‑time blank‑sailing alerts.
3. If you ship Christmas‑season orders, build schedule buffers and verify alternative vessel options in advance.
4. Keep tracking supplementary capacity‑adjustment announcements released by shipping carriers.