Halifax seeks boost from Vietnam connection

Halifax seeks boost from Vietnam connection    Canada's Port of Halifax hopes to benefit from a new service to and from Vietnam announced by the Grand Alliance shipping companies of NYK Line, Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL.
   The Grand Alliance announced earlier this month it would upgrade the Asia East Coast Express (AEX) service with the introduction of a 10th post-Panamax vessel and the addition of a direct and weekly Vietnam call at the deepwater port of Cai Mep.    The port rotation includes Cai Mep, Laem Chabang, Singapore, Colombo, Cagliari, Halifax, New York, Savannah, Norfolk, New York, Halifax, Cagliari, Jeddah, Colombo, Singapore and Cai Mep.
   'We are very pleased that we will continue as the first inbound and last outbound North American port for the AEX service,' said Karen Oldfield, president and chief executive officer of the Halifax Port Authority.   
   “The new service employing post-Panamax vessels enhances the Halifax supply chain gateway with additional capacity and frequency in our position as the Canadian gateway to both the Canadian and USA Midwest heartland,” she added.
   Oldfield said the port had recently participated in a trade mission to Vietnam and visited Cai Mep.