China Ocean Shipping Co (Cosco), K-Line and Yang Ming Marine are set to expand trans-Atlantic trade from early October using another five vessels.

'To provide the widest port coverage and best transit times, vessels will be deployed on two individual loops, four vessels covering the North Atlantic and five vessels covering the South Atlantic and Gulf,' a K-Line spokesman said.

The North Atlantic rotation will be - Antwerp, Felixstowe, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, La Havre, New York (westbound), Baltimore, Norfolk, New York (eastbound), Halifax and Antwerp.