JAPANESE freight transportation group MOL is launching a new container shipping service in May that is intended to serve the growing intra-Asia trade with Vietnam following the nation's recent accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The new service, called Vietnam Hong Kong New Loop 3 (VH3), will be offered through a space charter with Vietnam's national shipping company, Bien Dong Shipping, which currently offers joint services with MOL.

The port rotation for the VH3 will be: Haiphong (Fri/Sun), Hong Kong (Tue/Wed), Haiphong (Fri/Sun).

The current RSK service, provided by a space charter with RCL, will be scrapped in May to make way for the new VH3 service, a statement from MOL said.

A temporary service from Haiphong to Hong Kong was launched on March 24 when the Van Ly departed Haiphong. This offers transit times of two days in both directions.

MOL will also offer faster service to and from ports in Japan by connecting to the Japan/Hong Kong Straits route at the Hong Kong HIT terminal.

MOL added that currently its Haiphong-Japan service is offered mainly by connections to the RSK route between Haiphong and Hong Kong, but the company plans to offer more reliable and higher quality service by using the HIT terminal in Hong Kong. The Japan to Haiphong service will start in May.