Horizon names China agent

Horizon names China agent    Horizon Lines has appointed Hon Wing Lam as its owner’s representative and Ben Line Agencies as its general agent.
   The moves are to support sales and operations in Shanghai and Ningbo, as the company launches a new eastbound transpacific service in December.
   Horizon said Thursday that Lam has more than 30 years of ocean transportation experience and has spent the past 13 years working in China. Ben Line Agencies operates a network of more than 90 owned offices in 15 Asian countries.
   Beginning Dec. 13, Horizon Lines will start a weekly liner service, called the Five Star Express service, with port calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Los Angeles and Oakland, using five 2,824-TEU vessels. The line said transit time will be 11 days from Shanghai to Los Angeles with Monday morning cargo availability every week at Los Angeles.
   “The development of our Five Star Express service continues to be on schedule and we are very pleased with partnerships we have formed in China to support this operation,” said Brian Taylor, senior vice president, international services. “Our customers have been very receptive to our transpacific offering. As a result, our weekly vessel capacity is already 25 percent committed.”