APL launches direct Vietnam-US service

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Ho Chi Minh City: Global container shipping leader APL today launched a weekly direct container shipping service between Vietnam and the United States, which is Vietnam’s leading export partner, with about 20% of all outgoing freight heading across the Transpacific.
A gala event at the brand new Saigon Port-PSA (SP-PSA) deepwater container terminal located on the Cai Mep River in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam was attended by leading manufacturers, government officials and other senior industry figures.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, APL’s Senior Vice President for Pan American Trade, Bob Sappio, said: “At a time when trade is contracting across the world, Vietnam is among a select few countries that expects to record export growth in 2009. The PS1 service will help Vietnam grow as a vibrant manufacturing and export centre with an increasingly vital role to play in global trade.”
Goh Teik Poh, President of the South Asia region for APL, said: “It is a credit to the Vietnam Government’s vision and its commitment to change that a modern, integrated freight transportation system is fast becoming a reality. It is heartening that overseas companies such as PSA and NOL are welcomed here and are able to partner with local leaders such as Saigon Port and Vinalines to create facilities of this calibre.”
The new service will transit from Vietnam to the US West Coast – taking just 15 days to reach Seattle, and 16 days to Los Angeles.  
In another first for Vietnam, APL loaded 53-foot containers on to the APL Denver, which boast  60% more capacity than standard 40-foot containers. This extra space enables importers and exporters to consolidate more cargo into fewer containers.
“We are delighted that Vietnam’s shippers can now take advantage of the potential for significant cost reductions and improved transit times that our 53-foot equipment provides,” said Barry Akbar, Managing Director of APL Vietnam.  [03/06/09]