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APL to start 'market-beating' US-Suez service that cuts out Panama
POSTED: 9:12 a.m. EDT, May 14,2007
Global container ocean carrier APL will launch an "industry-first" service in July that will connect southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the US east coast via Suez.
The weekly Suez Express (SZX) will deploy eight 4,000 - 4,500-TEU ships with five from APL and its New World Alliance partners while Hyundai Merchant Marine and MOL will provide the other three.
"Market-beating transit times" include Singapore to New York in 21 days, and Singapore to Charleston and Savannah in 24 and 25 days respectively.
Said APL CEO Ron Widdows: "Port and rail congestion in North America are real issues for our customers who are diversifying supply chains throughout Asia as well as the gateways into the US market. Our SZX offers a solution that complements other Suez and transpacific services."
Mr Widdows added that the service supplements APL's existing all-water services and offers more choices as shippers consider how best to move cargo given the challenges they face.
The SZX service will appeal to shippers in fashion, apparel and perishables, with needs for fast and reliable supply chain fulfilment, he said.
The SZX port rotation will be: Singapore, Colombo, New York, Charleston, Savannah, Norfolk, Jebel Ali, Port Kelang and Singapore.
SZX also expects to attract cargo from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam through feeders. The service will also be competitive for markets such as Hong Kong, south China and western Australia, said an APL statement.
Bob Sappio, APL's senior vice president for the transpacific, said: "The SZX is in keeping with APL's tradition of raising the bar in terms of transit times, market coverage and reliability. The SZX was developed in response to customers who demand solutions with multiple ports and gateways which maximise product delivery certainty." |
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