K` Line-MOL Far East-US loop calls at Jaxport via Suez

THE Jacksonville Port Authority has welcomed the maiden call of the 5,610-TEU Suez Canal Bridge, one ship in the new rotation of weekly calls at the TraPac Container Terminal at Dames Point.

The new all-water service, jointly operated by TraPac parent MOL and "K" Line, will move cargo from Asia to the US east coast, including Jacksonville, via the Suez Canal, reported American Shipper.



The South China-Vietnam-US East Coast Service (SVE) deploys two MOL ships and seven "K" Line vessels each averaging 5,500-TEUs.



"The arrival of this service is a positive sign of the growth to come," said Roy Schleicher, the port`s chief marketing officer. "With the addition of these welcome new partners, Jaxport will have eight carriers offering direct service to the Far East."



According to the Journal of Commerce`s PIERS data, the proportion of cargo routed from Asia to the US via all-water services (Panama and Suez) reached 29 per cent last year. This was up on the 28 per cent reached in 2008 and the 25.7 per cent total of 2007. In 2003, just 21 per cent of cargo moved this way.



MOL`s alliance partners Hyundai Merchant Marine and APL and K Line`s CKYH partners Cosco, Hanjin and Yang Ming will charter slots on the service.



This is the third regular Far East weekly service to use MOL`s wholly owned TraPac terminal, which opened in January 2009.