TNWA adds two new port calls to its Atlantic Pacific Express service

The New World Alliance (TNWA), which consists of APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), announced today that shippers will soon have significantly improved service flexibility with two additional port options along its Atlantic Pacific Express (APX).

TNWA has redesigned its APX service to expand transportation service options between Asia and the United States East Coast via the Panama Canal.

The new APX port rotation will include the addition of an eastbound call at the Port of Miami, Florida, and is expected to commence with the sailing of the APL Panama from Hong Kong on May 26, arriving in Miami on June 22. In addition, a fixed-day, weekly call at the South China Port of Chiwan will be added to the port rotation pending government approval. This will be the first time that TNWA has provided service between Chiwan and North America.

To accommodate the call at Miami and eventually at Chiwan TNWA recently removed Pusan, South Korea from its APX service rotation and will offer all-water service between the U.S. East Coast and Pusan via its slot charter agreement with Evergreen Marine Corp.

The APX pendulum route will offer the following port rotation: Chiwan, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Kobe, Nagoya, Tokyo, Panama, Miami, Charleston, Norfolk, New York, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Le Havre, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Panama, Tokyo, Kobe, and back to Chiwan.

Ray Keene, EVP/COO, MOL (America) Inc. said, "The redesign of our APX Service expands our customers' transportation options by adding service from Asia to South Florida and by expanding service between South China and the United States East Coast. These deployment changes will enable us to enhance the transatlantic leg of the pendulum service as well."

Ed Aldridge, APL's President, Americas, said of the improved APX, "As the gateway for Latin American trade, Miami is projected to experience dramatic growth over the next five years. It will only grow in importance as the hub for transatlantic and transpacific cargo moving in and out of Latin America.

The addition of Miami to our service profile positions our customers to capitalize on these anticipated market opportunities."

"The new APX deployment will also feature more convenient cut-off times and faster eastbound transit from Hong Kong and Kaohsiung to Panama; 23 days and 22 days, respectively. In addition, westbound transit times from the United States East Coast to Pusan will improve significantly, by close to one week shorter," said KS Park, Hyundai Merchant Marine America President.

In all, The New World Alliance operates nine fixed-day weekly services in the Trans-Pacific. It also operates two Asia-U.S. East Coast services together with Evergreen Marine Corporation. In the Trans-Atlantic and Asia-Europe trades, TNWA has three and four fixed-day, weekly services, respectively, including a service dedicated to the Asia-Mediterranean trade.

The three member carriers coordinate some 100 containerships in major container trades.