APL launches container service to Hawaii

The CMA CGM subsidiary will commence a new container service out of China, Korea and Japan that will sail to Honolulu on a fortnightly basis starting July 25.    CMA CGM subsidiary APL will launch a new fortnightly container service between Asia and Hawaii, the ocean carrier said in a statement.
   Dubbed the “AEX”, the service will sail from Shanghai, Busan, Yokohama, Honolulu and back to Shanghai. The service is slated to commence on July 25 with an 18 day transit to Honolulu. 
   “The AEX service introduces a new sea route in our portfolio to directly serve Asia and Hawaii. Instead of routing via the U.S. mainland, shippers with Hawaiian-bound cargo will find a faster shipping alternative in the AEX service,” said Jesper Stenbak, APL senior vice president of Trans-Pacific Trade. “To optimally coincide with market activities in the U.S. state, shipments on board the AEX service are scheduled for Sunday arrival in Hawaii for early week cargo availability.”
   APL has also set up a fully-staffed office in Honolulu, along with three APL-operated vessels to sail on the new service. A “full array of solutions and equipment including 45-feet containers” will be offered as part of the AEX service, said APL.
   In addition, transshipment to extended Asian and Middle Eastern markets will be available from Shanghai, Busan and Yokohama, said APL. 
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, there are currently eight direct region-to-region liner services that call Honolulu, three operated by Matson, three by Pasha Hawaii, one by Aloha Marine Lines, and one jointly operated by Hamburg Sud and Hapag-Lloyd.