MOL adds day-definite Asia/U.S. intermodal link

MOL adds day-definite Asia/U.S. intermodal link    Japanese ocean carrier MOL said Friday it is starting a new day-definite intermodal service from Asia to New York, Atlanta, Memphis, Dallas and Chicago.
   The service, called Gator Guarantee, will use MOL’s Pacific Southwest Express (PSX) and Japan-American Shuttle (JAS) transpacific services for ocean transport from Asia, then BNSF rail service.
   “Under the Gator Guarantee agreement, MOL will deliver, in return for a reasonable fee, cargo by the stated date,” the carrier said. “Should MOL fail to deliver under the agreed upon terms, in addition to a full fee refund, MOL will also provide the customer an additional compensatory amount. Gator Guarantee will be available in MOL's tariff for all customers to access, but may also be included in individual service contracts, ensuring that all specified destinations will be covered under the program.”
   The new service is somewhat similar to a handful offered by APL Logistics, Hanjin Shipping and Matson in that it offers a day-definite service from Asia to inland U.S. points. Where it differs is that MOL has partnered with a railroad rather than a truckload carrier. APL’s OceanGuaranteed service uses Con-way Freight, while Matson uses J.B. Hunt. Last week, Hanjin launched its Pacific Promise service with Old Dominion Freight Line.
   The other difference is that MOL’s service, being linked to a railroad, has a specific number of U.S. destinations to which it can serve.
   The PSX has an eastbound transpacific rotation of Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Shimizu, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Oakland. Transit time between Toyko and Los Angeles is 10 days.
   The PSX has an eastbound transpacific rotation of Xiamen, Da Chan Bay, Hong Kong, Yantian, Oakland and Los Angeles, with a transit time of 11 days between Yantian and Oakland and 13 days to Los Angeles. ' Eric Johnson