A.P. Moller-Maersk is reinstating calls at the Yangshan deep water port as part of a strategic update to its Northern Star service. By shifting the call from the Port of Shanghai (Waigaoqiao) to Yangshan, Maersk aims to improve overall network reliability and transhipment efficiency for cargo moving through the region.
The Updated Port Rotation
The revised Northern Star service enhances connectivity between key Asian hubs and Oceania. Under the new schedule, the service will follow this rotation:
Shanghai (Yangshan), China
Hong Kong
Brisbane, Australia
Auckland, New Zealand
Nelson, New Zealand
Timaru, New Zealand
Port Chalmers, New Zealand
Napier, New Zealand
Tauranga, New Zealand
The change officially takes effect on May 3, 2026. The first vessel to execute the new Yangshan call will be the Maersk Innoshima, operating on northbound voyage 613N and southbound voyage 619S.
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This routing adjustment aligns with a broader industry trend among major ocean carriers. Operators are increasingly optimizing their port calls by shifting traffic toward major deep water gateway terminals like Yangshan.
By utilizing these advanced facilities, carriers can better accommodate larger vessels, improve schedule reliability, and build stronger transhipment links across their regional trade networks.