Hanjin Shipping will launch a direct service between Vietnam and the US with the departure of the first vessel from Port Kelang on June 21st.
The new South East & Japan Express (SJX) service has been developed to target the Vietnamese and South East Asian markets, which are showing constant growth despite the global economic recession.
By adding SJX calling Ho Chi Minh to the current Haiphong Express Service (HES) calling Haiphong, the company will be able to provide its customers with stable service to Vietnam's economic centres.
Furthermore, the new terminal in Cai-Mep, Ho Chi Minh, is a deep water port close to the sea, which can accommodate mega-sized vessels, and the restrictions caused by tides will soon be improved.
Six 4,000 TEU class ships will be deployed on the SJX, calling at Port Kelang > Singapore > Hong Kong > Yantian > Osaka > Tokyo > Long Beach > Oakland > Tokyo > Port Kelang. From July 7th, Hong Kong will be replaced by Ho Chi Minh.
In addition, since SJX will call on the Japanese ports, the existing China America Express (CAX) service will omit the Japanese ports, which will reduce the transit time from Shanghai, Busan to the US.
Meanwhile, Hanjin will continue to rationalise its existing services whilst developing new ones in order to cope with the market demand:
Swire Shipping has announced the re-tonnaging of its long established Westabout Round The World service (formerly known as Bank Line), which links Europe with the Pacific region.
Starting in July, the existing vessels will be phased out of the trade and replaced by faster, more modern multi-purpose vessels - providing and increase in capacity and significantly enhanced transit times.
The new service structure southbound will provide a streamlined rotation and greatly improved transit times to the ports of Papeete and Noumea, and will also offer a new direct call to Brisbane.
The northbound service will offer greater port coverage in Australia and New Zealand and provide customers with a fast and direct link to both the Mediterranean and North West Continent of Europe.
To reflect these enhancements, the service will be re-branded the Europe Pacific Service (EPS).
Cargo routed on the existing northbound WRTW trade from the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions to Europe will be accommodated on Swire's existing services ex-Asia, with on-carriage in Singapore if applicable for direct delivery to European and Mediterranean ports of call.
Key service features:
- Three x 1,150 TEU vessels
- Key transit times from Le Havre - to Papeete 23 days, to Noumea 29 days, to Brisbane 32 days
- Sailing frequency: Every 30 days, for a 90-day round trip
- European ports: Hamburg, Antwerp, Dunkerque and Le Havre
- Pacific Island ports: Papeete and Noumea
- Mediterranean port: Algeciras
- Australian / NZ ports: Brisbane, Port Kembla, Bluff, Melbourne and Adelaide
- Transhipment services: Connection to Australian and New Zealand ports, PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and other Pacific Island destinations
