Asia/Australia partners to expand cooperation

Asia/Australia partners to expand cooperation   

Related Stories •   Carriers work together in Asia/Australia trade

APL today outlined details of its new partnership with Hamburg S'd, Hapag-Lloyd and Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) in the Far East/Australia trade.
   The Singapore-based line joined with the other carriers earlier this year through a slot charter agreement on an existing single service but will this month become a vessel provider on an expanded two-string operation.
   APL is marketing the two services as:
   ' The China Australia North (CAN), calling Yokohoma, Osaka, Pusan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Yokohama.
   ' The China Australia South (CAS) with a port rotation of Kaohsiung, Yantian, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Kaohsiung.
   Hamburg S'd will contribute three ships to the services while each of the other carriers will provide two vessels. APL said the capacity of the ships will range from 2,300 TEUs and 2,800 TEUs.
   'The launch of these two loops helps us capitalize on robust trade growth between North Asia and Australia,” said Jason Wong, APL's vice president for intra-Asia. “The services will offer extensive coverage of Chinese ports as well as direct access from the Japan, Korea and Taiwan markets into and out of Australia. The new services will also complement the existing APL network and provide unparalleled connectivity to the rest of the major trade lanes via the key relay hubs of Hong Kong and Kaohsiung.”