APL, Direct Vietnam to North America Service

Global shipping leader APL announced the launch of a new weekly direct container shipping service linking Vietnam and the West Coast of North America.

Previously, Vietnam’s exporters have had to rely on small feeder vessels to connect with larger ships to gain access to the world’s major consuming markets.  The first departure of the APL-operated service on 4 June will directly link Vietnam’s exporters to the Transpacific routes, which are among the world’s largest and most dynamic trade lanes.

“This is the beginning of a new era for trade with Vietnam and marks its increased importance as a manufacturing and export centre,” said Eng Aik Meng, President of APL.

In early 2007, APL co-authored research examining Vietnam’s transportation and logistics environment. The report, “Vietnam Transportation and Logistics: Challenges and Opportunities,” concluded that Vietnam’s transition to a market economy and the fulfillment of its potential as a trading nation will be accelerated as it fast tracks the development of world-class transportation infrastructure and logistics systems.

“The launch of the service is recognition that Vietnam has not only established a strong market presence among the world’s leading shippers and manufacturers, but it is delivering on its commitment to modernize transportation infrastructure such as state-of-the-art port facilities capable of handling large deepwater containerships. We’re proud to be part of Vietnam’s transformation,” said Eng.

The 4,250 TEU vessel, APL Denver, which is deployed on APL’s Pacific South 1 (PS1) service, is scheduled to make one of the first calls at the Saigon Port-PSA (SP-PSA) facility in the first week of June. SP-PSA is Vietnam’s first operational deepwater container terminal serving Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam is one of the few countries in Asia projecting solid export growth in 2009. The majority of that trade expansion will be with North America, which is Vietnam’s largest export market.

(www.apl.com)