Hyundai’s new Asia-Europe Express service offers best transit times

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has launched its new Asia-North Europe Express (AEX) service that included Port of Colombo, in April from Pusan. The AEX service which is independently run by HMM offers exporters the fastest transit times to Europe base ports that will benefit them in meeting the timelines of their buyers with time sensitive shipments.

The first vessel on the AEX service mv ‘Hyundai Forward’ made its maiden call at the Port of Colombo on 22 April berthing at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT). 

AEX Service brings immense benefits to the importers sourcing shipments with direct sailings from the base ports of Korea, China and Taiwan, improving the supply chains and minimising delays. Shipping & Cargo Logistics, a subsidiary of Aitken Spence is the local agent for HMM in Sri Lanka.

This new service includes port rotation in Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Yantian, Singapore, Colombo, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton on the westbound voyage.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake commented, “We express our gratitude to HMM for choosing Colombo as one of its port of call and promoting Colombo as the transshipment hub for the Indian Subcontinent region. We assure that the Jaya Container Terminal and the Port of Colombo would afford all facilities to enhance transshipment volumes being routed through the Port of Colombo.”

HMM HQ – India Managing Director D.H. Oh expressed his confidence in the Port of Colombo and stated that HMM was laying greater emphasis on the Indian Subcontinent region with the opening of the Regional HQ in Mumbai and he expected more services to call at Colombo. He also mentioned the expansion plans of HMM where an order for 12 x 20000 TEU and 8 x 14000 TEUS vessels had been placed and by 2020. The 20000 TEU vessels will be deployed on the AEX service which will call at Colombo. He was excited at the development plans of the Port of Colombo and was looking forward for HMM to be a big player in Colombo in the very near future.

An exchange of plaques between Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake and HMM Regional HQ India Managing Director D.H. Oh, to commemorate the maiden call of the AEX independent service at JCT was held on 23 April. Also present at the ceremony were SLPA Director Operation Jayantha Perera, SLPA Chief Manager Marketing and Business Development Upul Jayatissa, Y.D. Park and Jitin Joshi from HMM Regional HQ India.

The local agents of HMM in Sri Lanka were represented by Shipping and Cargo Logistics Ltd. General Manager Bevin Mack along with Aitken Spence Maritime sector Chief Executive Officer Iqram Cuttilan.