Tiger goes to Thailand

Nothing to do with Tiger Woods visiting his Mother's native country but rather Bengal Tiger Line's (BTL) latest new venture from Singapore which sees them tying up with 'Thai' Feeder expert, Regional Container Lines, (RCL) and Japan main line giant, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to directly link Singapore to Laem Chabang and Chennai.

Commencing Tuesday 23rd March from Thailand, the parties will each deploy a 1,100 TEU vessel on a 21 day round voyage, providing fixed day weekly calls at all ports. The service will be named RMB after its participants, RCL/MOL/BTL.

BTL, a reknown Bay of Bengal Feeder specialist, has in recent years been expanding service coverage as far East as Korea and China and Westward to the Red Sea and Gulf. Additionally, last year a new Taiwan/Philippines shuttle was launched hubbing over Kaoshiung.

However, their main trade remains the Chennai market and, with this RMB service, BTL will offer 4 sailings a week to and from Singapore.
BTL Chairman, Joachim von der Heydt, commented, we are delighted to be participating in this new product for the trade, and are sure it will satisfy, both our clients, and those of our partners. Whilst our philosophy remains to run direct shuttle connections, we realize that some longer haul requirements are required but if we can double dip over Singapore then this will undoubtedly provide us more revenue. The service will provide less than 10 days end to end transit and, on the return leg, a Penang call will cater to both inbound laden traffic from Chennai, as well as a feeder link to Singapore. In Chennai the service will call at PSA's new Terminal, CITPL, which opened in the first half 2009.
Chennai is India main East coast gateway port and is increasingly becoming an important market for consumable products as well as the automobile assembly industry. BTL have been involved in Chennai for over 20 years and operated the first Berth Reservation Scheme which facilitated the start of regular and reliable connectivity. we are always looking into service structures which upgrade our existing service pattern, and are therefore very happy with this new strong partnership, advised BTL MD, Bill Smart.
The exact rotation is as follows:
Laem Chabang - Singapore - Port Kelang - Chennai - Penang - Port Kelang - Singapore - Laem Chabang
Vessel names are: m/v Bani Bhum, m/v MOL Evolution and m/v Cape Fox.