New APL ocean route connects China and Southeast Asia

Monday, 8 November 2010 06:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

APL, the world’s fifth-largest container shipping line, last week announced a new service linking China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Called the China Indonesia Straits Service, the weekly routing will densify APL’s Intra-Asia network.

“We’re addressing the ever-increasing requirement for direct-call service to key Asian growth markets,” said Jason Wong, Vice President of APL’s Intra-Asia Trade.

APL said it will operate the service with four 3,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container ships. The service debuts 14 November from Shanghai with the sailing of the APL Sydney.

The China Indonesia Straits Service is the third new dedicated Intra-Asia service introduced by APL since 2009. It will be among the industry’s fastest from China into Jakarta and Surabaya. The port rotation includes Shanghai (Waigaoqiao), Ningbo, Xiamen, Chiwan, Singapore, Jakarta, Surabaya, Jakarta, Port Klang (Westport), Singapore, Laem Chabang and Shanghai.

APL is a global container shipping business offering more than 60 weekly services and more than 500 calls at more than 140 ports worldwide. It combines world-class intermodal operations with leading-edge IT and e-commerce. APL is a unit of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), global shipping and logistics company.